New committee looks at school budget

Joe Cacioppo, named community leader for the Carson City School District's Strategic Advisory Committee, said the group has developed a plan for carrying out its duties.

"We're not here to tell the school district what to do," he said. "We're here to provide some well-rounded ideas. Right now, no idea is off the table."

The first order of business, he said, is to address the district's short-term objective to cut the budget by an anticipated $7.2 million shortfall from the Nevada legislature.

"Our goal is to figure out ways to redeem the spending to get closer to that number," he said. "At the same time, we want to do that without sacrificing education."

The committee was formed after several months of contentious meetings centered around potential budget cuts.

The school district hosted a series of town hall meetings to discuss a variety of ways to reduce spending. The two most controversial ideas were closing an elementary school and switching Fremont Elementary School's schedule from year-round to the traditional calendar of all other school's in the district.

Both ideas were rejected after heated public outcry.

District officials formed the advisory board earlier this month following the pattern of similar advisory boards already operating, such as the bond committee and master plan committee.

"The Strategic Advisory Committee represents major stakeholders in the Carson community," said Susan Keema, associate superintendent of the Carson City School District. "(It) was created based on direction from the board of trustees who

emphasized the need for a broad base of participants from throughout the community."

The committee met for the first time last week, and during Monday's meeting will focus on informing all the members of the issues confronting them.

From there, Cacioppo said, they will be considering concrete solutions to the budget cuts. Once this year's budget is figured out, the committee will shift its focus to long-term financial priorities for the district.

The public is invited to make suggestions or comments on the school district Web site at www.carsoncityschools.com.

If you go:

WHAT: Carson City School District's Strategic Advisory Committee meeting

WHEN: 6-8 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Gleason Professional Development Center, 604 W. Musser St.

Committee members are:

Helaine Jesse, Ken Furlong, Tammy Westergard, Steve Wassner, Aaron Covington, Chet Alexander, Teri Cantley, J. Ferrall Cafferata, Debbie Painter,

Paula Guzman, Mary Foster, LeAnn Saarum, Kate Duvall, John Simms, Jason Zona, Nancy Yamamoto, Cindy Rowe, Brian Wallace, Ray Saylo

Board of Trustee members on the committee are: Steve Reynolds, Lynnette Conrad and Joanna Wilson