At a special meeting on June 23, Churchill County School Board trustees reviewed ideas and strategies they had brought back from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, in April.
The event supports school leadership nationwide. All seven CCSD trustees and Superintendent Derild Parsons attended at a total cost of about $11,000. The event offered workshops that focused on student achievement, teacher support, and programs other districts are using to boost student success, and strengthen community engagement.
Trustee Julie Guerrero-Goetsch shared a lighthearted example that stuck with her: “All it takes is a bag of potato chips,” she said, noting that small gestures can encourage students and help them feel seen. “Sometimes, just knowing someone sees you and believes in your effort is all a kid needs to keep pushing.”
After attending sessions focused on building parent engagement, Guerrero-Goetsch suggested ideas such as hosting coffee conversations with the superintendent, utilizing an app for school updates, and even creating an “Adulting 101” class to teach high school juniors life skills, including budgeting and resume writing. Furthermore, she discussed the importance of honest conversations and building connections.
Trustee Wendy Bullock spoke about re-engaging students who have been away from school for a period of time. She noted some students take up to two weeks to get back on track after breaks. Workshops she attended covered the importance of positive reinforcement, such as rewarding students who attend class at least 90% of the time. Bullock also participated in sessions on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the classroom, focusing on lesson planning, tutoring, and scheduling.
Trustee Joe McFadden raised concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental health. He said one suggestion from the conference was a voluntary “60-day cleanse” to help students take a break from online platforms and see how it affects their well-being. The idea sparked questions about how such programs could work locally.
Board President Gregg Malkovich and Trustee Kathryn Whitaker brought up consistency in district policies and the need to instill good habits early. “Education strategies need to start in kindergarten, not when the kids are going into high school,” Whitaker said.
In addition to discussing the conference, Board President Gregg Malkovich reported that the Governance Team will begin reviewing Board of Trustees Policy 8000.0. The review may include discussions on board authority, member integrity, self-evaluation, and compensation, as well as the district’s vision and priorities. It will also cover student achievement, curriculum, fiscal issues, facilities, technology, professional development, operations, governance, personnel, the district’s strategic plan, and other areas.
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