Washoe County School District, Nevada

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Washoe County School District is a school district in Nevada. The Washoe County School District includes the Reno metropolitan area and the cities of Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, as well as the rest of Washoe County, Nevada. The Washoe County School District served 63,310 students during the 2009-10 school year. This district is composed of 64 elementary schools (24) of which are on a year-round schedule, a special education school, 16 middle schools and 12 comprehensive high schools, in addition to [Truckee Meadows Community College High School (a magnet school), Washoe High School (an alternative school) and the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology. The district employs 7,418 individuals.[1]

[edit] Website evaluation

Main article: Evaluation of Nevada school district websites

[edit] The good

  • School board meeting schedule[2], minutes, and agendas available.[3]
  • School board meetings are televised live and can be viewed anytime via video posted online.[4]
  • Administrative officials listed in staff directory.[5]
  • Union contracts available for the Washoe Education Association[6], Association of Professional and Technical Administrators[7], Washoe School Principals' Association[8], Washoe Education Support Professionals[9] and the Washoe County School Police Officer's Association[10].
  • Includes information on academic performance[11] and curriculum.[12]
  • Forms available for "public records, information and/or documents" request[13] as well as for student records.[14]

[edit] The bad

  • No background check information posted for staff.
  • Not all vendor contract bid information posted.
  • The budget includes total revenue collected from taxes, but information on specific tax rates not available.

[edit] School Board

The school board is responsible adopting an annual budget for the school district based on the educational plan for the district and the recommendations of the administrators. In addition, he board supervises the execution of the budget, reviews school district accounts and provides for an annual audit of the accounts as required by law. The school board is also repsonsible for adopting academic standards for pupils and establishing expectations for the district. The school board monitors student academic achievement and exercises general oversight of the schools in the district.[15]

Board memebers are elected to four year terms.

Member District Term Expires
Dan Carnes District A 2012
Nancy Hollinger District B 2010
Barbara Clark, President District C 2010
Ken Grein District D 2012
Scott Kelly District E 2012
Estella Gutierrez, Vice-President District F - At Large 2010
Barbara McLaury, Clerk District G - At Large 2012

Board memebers are elected to four year terms. The School Board publishes its policies on its website.[16]

[edit] School budget

Nevada Revised Statute section 354.624 requires Nevada school districts to issue an annual report on its financial position and to have that report audited by an independent firm of certified public accountants.[17]

The general operating budget for the 2008-09 school year is $456,369,138. Sixty-nine percent of this support comes from local sources, twenty-six percent from state sources, less than one percent from federal sources and the remainder from opening fund balances. Local funds from sales and property taxes provide thirty-six percent of the total resources. Per-pupil expenditure from the general operating budget is $7,086. Nearly 2/3 of every per-pupil dollar is spent on instruction and instructional support.[18]

The district's expenses totaled $554.7 million. Regular instruction costs constituted the largest expense at $249 million. The other largest categories of expenditures were $47.3 million operations and maintenance and $46.2 million for special education.[19]

The district's total revenues amounted to $597.5 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. Ad valorem property taxes generated $161.1 million, comprising 27.8% of revenues. Local school support tax (sales tax) generated $153.3 million, comprising 26.4% of revenue. The district received $125.2 million in state aid, comprising 21.6% of revenues. Revenues increased $38.7 million over the prior fiscal year.[20] The district budget for fiscal year 2010 included $160 million in state aid. The amount of federal assistance was budgeted at $516,000.[21]

[edit] School Choice

The district sponsors eight charter schools.[22] The district explains on its website that each charter school "has its own governing body that directs its operations. State law says the sponsoring districts may not interfere in the normal, day-to-day business of charter schools. So, charters are free to chart their own course, free of many, but not all, rules and regulations covering other schools."[23] It provides contact information on each of the eight charter schools, but no information on admissions.[24] The district also notes that students living in Washoe County may enroll in one of the five state-sponsored charter schools.[25]

[edit] Academic Performance

Percentile rank of average standard scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills/Iowa Test of Educational Development[26]

Grade Level Reading Language Math Science
4 52.3 51.7 57.6 58.6
7 43.4 40.9 46.5 51.3
10 48.4 44.4 45.9 50.0

The following percentages of students of Washoe County School District were proficient or above on the Nevada Criterion Referenced Test[27]

Grade Level Reading Math Science
3 57.8 58.8 n/a (not given to third graders)
5 49.0 60.9 54.8
8 58.0 56.0 64.6

[edit] Public Records

The district provides a form to allow for the request of public records. [28]

[edit] Lobbying

Main article: Nevada taxpayer-funded lobbying

The school district has six registered lobbyists. [29]


[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Washoe County School District Fast Facts
  2. ↑ Upcoming Meetings
  3. ↑ Board Meeting Archive of Agendas and Minutes
  4. ↑ School Board Meting Streaming Video Archive
  5. ↑ Washoe County Schools Directory
  6. ↑ Agreement between the Washoe County School District and the Washoe Education Association 2007-2011
  7. ↑ Negotiated Agreement between the Washoe County School District and the Association of Professional and Tecnical Administrators
  8. ↑ Negotiated Agreement between the Washoe County School District and Washoe School Principals Association 2007-2011
  9. ↑ Agreement between the Washoe County School District and the Washoe Education Support Professionals 2007-2011
  10. ↑ Agreement between the Washoe County School District and Washoe County School Police Officer's Association 2007-2011
  11. ↑ WCSD Fast Facts
  12. ↑ WCSD Core Curriculum Standards
  13. ↑ [1]
  14. ↑ Procedures for Accessing and Releasing Student Information and Educational Records
  15. ↑ Nevada Association of School Boards
  16. ↑ Policies and Regulations
  17. ↑ Nevada Revised Statutes
  18. ↑ Washoe County School District Fast Facts
  19. ↑ School District Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2008
  20. ↑ School District Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2008
  21. ↑ Fiscal Year 2010 Amended Budget
  22. ↑ WCSD Sponsored Charter Schools
  23. ↑ Charter Schools
  24. ↑ Charter Schools
  25. ↑ Charter Schools
  26. ↑ Washoe County School Districts Fast Facts
  27. ↑ Washoe County School Districts Fast Facts
  28. ↑ Request for Public Records, Information and/or Documents
  29. ↑ Nevada Legislature - Lobbyist Employer List
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