School Board Reviews Budget, Instructional Time, and Counseling Restructure

At their regular meeting on March 26, the Churchill County School District Board of Trustees heard updates on several topics, including new learning tools in the classroom and ongoing budget challenges.

Assistant Superintendent Stacey Cooper presented a report on the district-wide rollout of i-Ready Math, a program now in full use for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Introduced initially as a pilot under former Superintendent Dr. Summer Stephens, i-Ready has since grown into a full curriculum backed by the state and used across Nevada.

The program includes digital lessons and printed materials, giving teachers data to tailor instruction to each student's needs. While kids liked the online features, Cooper said many asked for paper workbooks. That feedback helped drive the decision to adopt the full print version this year.

One trustee said, "I'm highly impressed with i-Ready and how it meets students where they are." The board confirmed that the program is now a required part of classroom instruction for all K–8 students in the district.

Comptroller Kristi Fielding shared early numbers for the 2025–26 school budget; among the most pressing concerns are a 3.25% increase in retirement contributions and a 12% jump in insurance costs. Fielding said those changes alone significantly strained the district's general fund.

While the state's proposed budget gives Churchill County a $120,000 boost in per-pupil funding, that only works out to about $39 more per student. At the same time, the district is set to lose more than $300,000 in funding for at-risk students.

To help cover the gap, Fielding identified over $2.3 million in this year's budget that hasn't been spent — including funds for unfilled positions, unused technology and training, and contingency dollars. If those funds remain unspent, the district's end-of-year balance would sit just above the state-mandated minimum.

But more cuts may still be needed. "We need to find either $1.5 million more in unspent funds this year or reduce next year's budget by that amount to meet the 4% minimum fund balance," Fielding told the board. Trustees emphasized the need for timely information so decisions aren't left to the last minute.

Superintendent Derild Parsons also addressed questions that had come up about how instructional minutes are calculated. After going back and reviewing the data as far back as the 2021–22 school year, district staff found that some time had been inconsistently reported.

Parsons said adjustments have already been made at schools like Lahontan Elementary to ensure students get as much learning time as possible within teachers' contractual schedules. Trustees asked that future reports include both instructional time and professional development hours so they can better understand how teacher time is balanced.

Trustees approved a plan to restructure the Churchill County High School counseling department better to support students' academic planning and personal well-being. One unfilled counselor position will be converted into a Dean of Students role.

CCHS Principal Tim Spencer said the new position will help meet growing student needs — from scheduling and graduation plans to behavior support and community-based services. "This is not a reduction in services—it's a reimagining to improve efficiency and impact," Spencer said.

The Dean of Students will take the lead on programs like MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports), coordinate care teams, and serve as a liaison with local mental health partners. At the same time, the change will allow assistant principals to spend more time mentoring teachers and leading school-wide instruction.

Trustees noted how hard it has been to find qualified school counselors and supported the change as a creative solution that other schools might consider if it proves effective. Superintendent Parsons confirmed the change would not increase the overall staffing budget.

The board will revisit the budget at its next meeting on Tuesday, April 9. Trustees also requested a future agenda item to review how the high school prepares students for the ACT and how those strategies might be improved.

Coverage of the April 9 meeting will appear in the April 18 edition of The Fallon Post.