The Churchill County School Board of Trustees evaluated Superintendent Summer Stephens during the regular school board meeting last week, giving her a satisfactory rating and extending her contract through June of 2023. She received a $3,330 per year raise, and $500 to spend on association dues of her choice.
Stephens received a total of 39 excellent, 84 satisfactory, and 2 needs improvements marks from the seven-member board. The two needs improvement marks were received in “communication” and “contracts/evaluations/job descriptions.”
Trustee Tricia Strasdin said that she remains frustrated by the evaluation tool the district continues to use, but is also appreciative, “because the events that have transpired through the past unprecedented year caused me to believe that we have all gained a better understanding of just how much responsibility a superintendent can have and a clearer understanding of these areas of focus for evaluative purposes.” She also said she could not imagine having to be evaluated in a public meeting, and thanks Stephens for her work this year during the, “looming cloud of a global pandemic.”
Kathryn Whitaker, former President of the board of trustees also thanked Stephens for her dedication to students and spoke about areas that had been improved. “Just remember to make sure that you slow down long enough to listen before speaking to staff. If someone has something to say it doesn’t necessarily mean they disagree, but we all want to be heard,” said Whitaker.
Trustee Carmen Schank said she has a sense that the culture of the school district has improved, and Stephens has the ability and has pulled people together. “She has excellent community and state involvement, and I am impressed with her work ethic – she gets so much done,” said Schank. “I trust her.”
Board President Matt Hyde said he has noticed a marked improvement in Stephen’s active listening and said he needs to remember to practice that as well. “I appreciate your dedication and you should be proud of the work you’ve done and the accomplishments of the district this past year,” he said. “Thank you for your hard work.”
The board also elected officers for the new year, with Hyde continuing to serve as president, Strasdin as vice-president, Schank as clerk, and Amber Getto as acting clerk. The board members also made changes and additions to the representation on 13 committees, including Hyde and Whitaker to the Nevada Association of School Boards; Getto, Hyde, and Whitaker to the legislative committee; and Schank, Whitaker, and Getto to the negotiations committee. Newly elected Gregg Malkovich will serve on policy committee as well as the budget committee.
In other business the board received a report from Lahontan Elementary staff regarding the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support team, led by first-grade teacher Lisa Mills. The PBIS team began their work in 2019 and in November saw a 20% achievement rate, with growth to 40% in February of 2020, and 77% in October of 2020. If they are able to maintain that growth through May of this year, they will move to the Tier 2 level.
One concern of the team was the discovery that most of the students were not able to articulate and did not understand the expectations of behavior which led to a school-wide project to make sure all students know what is expected. Mills said that every day after the Pledge of Allegiance students now recite a quote every day, “We are wolf pups. Wolf pups are respectful, responsible, and safe.” The school mascot is the Wolf Pack. She said this re-emphasizes for students the expectations and the exact language which is reinforced during class time with words and pictures.
The PBIS program also uses incentives to encourage students to meet expectations with the use of “pup bucks” that students can earn through academic performance and behavior, and then spend those in the student store.
Superintendent Stephens said during her report that the first round of staff vaccinations would take place on January 14th and she thanked Churchill County for moving up the schedule to make that happen. Additionally, the Chartwells food services contract is being extended for one year under a waiver and staffing, and the district will go out to the Request for Proposal process next year.
High School sports continue with many unknowns after the Governor extended the state “pause” last week for 30 more days. Both athletic directors and superintendents from across the state will be holding meetings and continue to push for opening sports, and she encouraged anyone with concerns to contact the Governor and his COVID Task Force.
Comptroller Christi Fielding provided a business services report saying the First Independent Bank is now charging a fee for cash deposits which is averaging close to $100 each month to the district. She is looking for other banking options. She is leaving the investments the way they are, although interest rates have continued to drop over the past nine months, she is comfortable with the Local Government Insurance Trust investment rates.
Additionally, Fielding spoke at the recent State Board of Finance meeting where that board approved for the district to use the permanent school funding guarantee for bond refunding which will save the district $190,000. The total anticipated savings over time is $1.1 million in refunding of the bond.
The regular school board meetings are held the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month and begin at 5:30 p.m. The district webpage is churchillcsd.com.
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