Superintendent Board Report June 2020

General Comments:  Despite all the challenges that we face to keep our school operational, it is the best feeling when see that our students have made significant progress in their individual learning goals this year. Thank you staff and parents. 😊

Our current Summer focus is determining 1) What where our budget will finally be for 2020-2021, 2) Re-opening plan for August, 3) Ordering curriculum and, 4) Facilities upgrade for playground and related areas. The state “Path Forward” document for school reopening is attached as FYI and our approach will be to follow the recommended guidelines but keep the plan simple and well communicated to the community.

POOL/PACT will be presenting on insurance services this board go-round.

We have been a bit challenged in getting all state administrative end-of-year reports in on time (grades, attendance and misc.). None are late but it just hasn’t gone as smoothly as in the past. This is due to new staff in key positions this year.

Teachers/Students: We reported last meeting that we will be using 75 student enrollment number for our DSA estimate. We are still not sure how the mining operations will affect us in that estimate. Our staff for 2020-2021 is assigned as follows.

Dyer:

Ms. Villa Preschool and Barton

Ms. Sandra Miramontes K-2 (Curriculum PK-5)

Ms. Terhune 3-4

Ms. Simental 5-6 (ASO)

Mr. Valentine 7-8 (8^th Advisor)

Ms. Stephanie Miramontes and Ms. Kirby Para duties as needed

Ms. Cornforth Bus

Ms. Reynoso Custodial

Goldfield:

Ms. Dizmang Preschool and Para duties as needed

Ms. Vessels K-2

Ms. Jacobs 3-5

Mr. Fossett 6-8 (Principal/Curriculum Grades 6-8/Advisor 8th)

Ms. Hooten Para duties as needed

Mr. DeLuna maintenance

Ms. Huffman Custodial

Mr. Graymountain Transportation

SPE:

Mr. Abbott Intermediate and Jr. High Teacher (ASO and Curriculum)

Ms. Abbott Preschool and Primary grades (Para, Custodial and Food Service)

Mr. DeLuna Maintenance

District Office:

Ms. Ottolino Literacy Specialist

Ms. Kile SPED

Mr. Kile Transportation/Facilities/Custodial Director

Not filled, Counselor/VHS Coordinator

Ms. Sanderson Business/Grants/ HR Manager

Ms. Guerrero Financial Manager

Not filled, Registrar/District Admin Assistant

Brian Sanderson Maintenance

Lora Penson Bus/Food Service

Note 1: The district is recruiting for both the Counselor and the Registrar position. All Teachers and Paras are licensed for the area that they are responsible. There are two notable extenuations for Highly Qualified status. One is a full-time sub that is licensed as a sub and holds a Bachelor’s degree. This person is close to completing requirements for a K-8 Provisional. The other has licensure in 7-12 Science and is being mentored/monitored by a licensed Administrator for Elementary Instructional variances. It is also important to note that classrooms vary in numbers from year to year. Example: A K-2 classroom may have 13 one School Year with no second graders and the next year may have only 8 without Kindergarten. The district approach has been to allow this to occur without adjustments whenever reasonable. Paras are assigned to assist when the numbers are greater than normal for a particular year.

Note 2: Just a reminder that our PLCs have been restructured so that the District 6-8 will meet once a month with the coordination of Mr. Fossett. The District PK-5 will meet once a month with the coordination of Ms.  Sandra Miramontes. The other monthly PLC meeting will be held as Building Teams and they will share out with each other. SPE and GF still meet.

Note 3: I hope no one of us feels any less appreciated by my saying that Mr. Fossett’s presence in our District has been a boost to community relationships, morale and instructional leadership. Our school family is truly blessed.

The graduations of all three EsCSD schools were held the first week of June on separate nights and in accordance with the Board’s guidelines. Very well attended and very well done. Great attitude by all. Special thanks Trish, Bill and to Carl and for representing the board during these attendance restrictions. Also, a special appreciation offered for our local Masonic Lodge contribution for the “Bikes for Books” program. Ten students received a bicycle.

Safety

I have attached the NDE Reopening Guidance. The District PLC Committee, which has the appropriate Stakeholders (including Trustee Melendrez and Trustee Hafer), will serve as our NDE mandated District Reopening Committee. This is where we handle our Safety Planning and we will approve a short Memorandum (July 14^th) that will address the NDE requirements for opening in SY 2020-2021. We will ask the board to approve it July 21^st and then submit it to NDE by the required 20 days.

The monthly District PLC/Safety meeting was conducted at its usual date/time the Tuesday prior to the board meeting in June. The following agenda items were:

1. ASO/Principal updates  for SY structure and resource needs for SY 2020-2021

2. Safety Issues

  a. Windows, Playground, Safe Rooms, and Operational Drills.

  b. Schedule a Table- Top Exercise with First Responder leaders in Esmeralda County?

  c. Reopening School Discussion (NDE Guidance and EsCSD).

3. Other:  Restorative Justice (NRS Required) integration draft sent to Melinda. Board to approve in July as part of the Behavior Plan. Ace Fire has completed their contract. Shelter in Place has completed all Safe Rooms.

District Facilities Update.

Painting, repairing and cleaning at all sites.

Mike is still working on getting a Judge Wanker’s order for ownership of the 1/3 acre that the District is planning to sell. I have given up on Gloria for a Broker’s Opinion of appraisal and asked Nancy Rippie to give us one.

In order to facilitate a late start (due to budget uncertainty) on the playground for this summer we will be asking the board to allow the district to expend 150K on updating playground equipment. This is at the bottom of our Safety Facilities Plan list. We will use part of the 200K set aside for the Academic Field in Dyer and then ask you to put it back in at the December Budget approval meeting.

The Athletic Field is coming along. The backhoe is not as efficient as a dozer, grader and bucket loader but it is coming along. Come see it. Concurrent with expending funds on Playgrounds it is the District intent to purchase curbing for the Athletic Field track from the 200K as well. I am hoping that the area will start to look like something in a couple of months. Kudos go out to Brian and Doug for their work out there.

Superintendent/Board:   

As previously stated, Anabel, Wendy and Bill Kirby have worked diligently with what little information we have, to place an appropriate budget proposal before the board last month. It is still holding for now. As predicted by Anabel it appears our ending fund balance will be very close if not a bit more than what was given at the May Budget Hearing. Her prediction is dependent on the accuracy of projected end of year proceeds from the County.

As you already know SB543 is the genesis of the updated funding formula. I was asked by Ryan Russell of Allison-MacKenzie on behalf of Jeff Zander Consulting- if EsCSD would get behind the majority (all but 1-2 I think) in requesting that the state defer the SB543 an additional year (See attached). On behalf of the Board and after consulting with Anabel I said we would. I have not signed anything if you want to say something else.

Most have met Mary P. who attended our November Board meeting last Fall in Sparks. She gave a nice summary of the June Legislative Interim Committee on Education. I have attached it.

Theresa and I have moved to the NE Teacherage in Dyer, the Fossett’s have moved to the one that we are vacating and Elizabeth to his. Terry Jacobs is back in her RV in GF as was originally planned. I am supposed to give you a leave plan for the Summer. We do have a great deal of landscaping in the works at Spring Creek and so intend to be gone more than the last two summers But I am available by phone/text/email and will work school issues as needed.

Once again…Thank you for who you are and for your support of the District. Stay Safe. 😊