School board hears back-to-school highlights

Churchill County School Board heard summer school and back-to-school highlights, discussed workers’ compensation insurance options and approved a Human Resource analyst employment contract during its Aug. 21 regular meeting.

Jacquelinne Vilchiz-Mondragon, Churchill County High School student representative to the board, shared some highlights of the first days back in school. She said a fence and logo shades on the windows have been installed on campus and they look nice and enhance school safety. She also reported an estimated 1,300 students and families attended the Aug. 8 Back-to-School kickoff event at the Rafter 3C arena.

In addition to her work with the trustees, Vilchiz-Mondragon said she is one of 42 students who are working in local businesses through the school’s internship program. At the front desk of Hendrix Insurance she uses many of the skills she has learned as secretary of various student clubs.

Vilchiz-Mondragon said the opportunity also has helped her become more comfortable talking with customers, especially when she is able to help them through Spanish translation.

“Go for it,” she advised other students. “Get out of your comfort zone because you’ll more than likely learn new skills in that position.”

Superintendent Derild Parsons said the school district participated in Churchill County’s Aug. 10 Community Day. School district representatives were part of a large group of volunteers who donated and distributed school supplies to almost 800 students at the event.

“I just want to extend my appreciation to our community for the things that they do,” Parsons said. “It’s great being here. Our community is very strong in supporting education. My goal as superintendent is that we are a community-involved district.”

Parsons also said the district transportation department is once again stretched to the limit by transporting 200 additional students over last year on 15 regular route buses and two special education buses. Some families are on a waiting list, he said, and a new route has been added that is currently being driven by the transportation dispatcher until more drivers can be hired.

Wayne Carlson and Alan Kalt, the executive director and chief financial officer, respectively, of the Nevada Public Agency Compensation Trust and insurance POOL, facilitated a discussion and presentation of workers’ compensation self-insurance, where the district assumes risk of its losses to employees, versus switching to a group self-insurance via PACT.

Traci Lewis, summer school administrator, provided an update on the summer school sessions.

Also:

• Jennifer Gehant, learning facilitator, spoke briefly about the district’s New Teacher Mentor-Protege Program and New Teacher Academy 2024-25 training and support to new teachers, Alternative Route to Licensure teachers and long-term substitutes.

• Trustees also unanimously approved a Human Resource analyst employment contract with Andrea Gonzales.

• Video replays of school board meetings are now available on the newly created YouTube channel “ChurchillCSDBoardMeetings.” 

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the administrative office at 690 S. Maine St.