School Board Bids Farewell to Hyde and Evaluates Superintendent

At their last board meeting, Churchill County School District trustees recognized departing Trustee Matt Hyde, who was elected to the Churchill County Commission, for his dedication to the board and the students of the district over the past ten years. Hyde will take his seat on the commission on Jan. 6.

Trustee Kathryn Whitaker, who served with Hyde for ten years, said he was instrumental in steering the board’s direction and focus to where it needed to be.

“The decisions he made impacted students’ lives. He understands good governance,” she said.

Hyde became the board president in January 2020, a role Whitaker described as, “The toughest two years a board president has ever had to serve.”

“There was chaos in the surrounding communities, and we weathered a difficult storm in pretty good shape considering what was going on around us, and that had a lot to do with Matt’s leadership,” Whitaker said.

Trustee Julie Guerrero-Goetsch praised Hyde’s involvement in youth sports and the NIAA (Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association), saying, “He has definitely been an example to the rest of us, and I appreciate his leadership and dedication.”

Wendy Bullock, the newest trustee and an employee of Churchill County Court Services, said she was excited to have Hyde as part of the county team and looked forward to new changes.

Trustee Amber Getto said Hyde had been a great mentor and sounding board, offering invaluable advice.

Superintendent Derild Parsons also recognized Hyde for his assistance in establishing his role as superintendent.

“I value the knowledge you have and the wisdom you bring to this board. You say the things that need to be said, and I look forward to working with you in your new capacity,” Parsons said.

Sharla Hales, the district’s attorney, added, “You have been a conveyor of wisdom and calm, a steady hand, and you leave a big hole to fill.”

Board President Gregg Malkovich reflected on his time working with Hyde as both an administrator and board member.

“You always knew what to say and when to say it. Sometimes you were better at not saying a word. Your timing is perfect. You knew when to put it in perspective or calmly grab the mic and change the flow of the discussion,” Malkovich said.

Hyde expressed gratitude for the recognition.

“I have been blessed to work with amazing board members. One person cannot get anything done, so everyone I’ve served with has had a big hand in what we’ve done,” Hyde said. “Some people say this is a thankless job, but when you get to sit up there and watch kids graduate who you’ve seen grow up and you get to hand awards out like we did tonight, what more thanks can anyone want? It’s a wonderful job.”

Hyde also offered advice to new board members.

“I’ve told new board members, ‘You’re going to think you came in and made a great decision, but someone will be standing there pointing a stick at you. You’ll never make everyone happy, but if you keep students at the center, you’ll be just fine.’ I’ve had some great mentors, and I’ve learned from every one of you. Thank you to the community for putting me in this seat for ten years,” he said.

In other business, Parsons recognized the transportation department during his superintendent report.

“Last year we bussed an average of 1,287 students per day, and this year we are serving 1,424 per day. Natasha (Domes, Transportation Supervisor) has done a great job of shoring up transportation. We’re serving 137 more kids, and there are no blackouts scheduled. Kudos to their hard work and creativity,” Parsons said.

Trustees also approved the evaluation of Superintendent Parsons. The evaluation tool is a three-part process: Part I is based on standards and professional practices, Part II is based on local priorities of the district aligned with the strategic plan, and Part III is the final performance summary sheet.

Parsons received an overall rating of 2.99, which included a self-assessment process and supporting evidence. The process requires a discussion of the evaluation results during a regular public meeting.

Guerrero-Goetsch thanked Parsons for his effort in the self-evaluation.

“You went above and beyond with examples and evidence. This is not an easy process; this is a really detailed evaluation tool. Thank you for your honesty and effort,” she said.

Whitaker noted that she had discussed the results with Parsons.

“I fully support Derild and hope we can continue to improve as a governance team. I’m expecting more honest NEPF (Nevada Educator Performance Framework) evaluations, so I was a little more honest with this one. If I expect that, I’ve got to give that,” Whitaker said.