School board wraps 2023, sets schedule for new year

During a regular meeting of the Churchill County Board of School Trustees on Dec. 13 the board set its meeting schedule for 2024, approved the year-end audit and chose a broker for Churchill County High School’s student-built house.

Acting Clerk Kathryn Whitaker shared the news that during the Nevada Association of School Board’s annual conference in December, President Tricia Strasdin received the NASB Veteran School Board Member of the Year.

“I want to recognize her for all of the great work she’s done as a board member serving her community and, specifically, our students here in Churchill County,” Whitaker said.

Strasdin said she was honored, and it was a “wonderful surprise” to win the award.

Trustees discussed the effectiveness of the current once-a-month board meeting schedule. The general consensus was that one meeting per month works well when paired with the board’s willingness to hold special meetings as needed. Churchill County School District Superintendent Derild Parsons said it would be difficult for him, Executive Assistant Debra Shyne and the staff to find the time to do the extensive preparation needed for each meeting more than once a month.

Also included was a suggestion to hold the agenda-setting meetings a week earlier each month to give everyone more preparation time. No motion was required and the schedule remains at one regular meeting per month for 2024.

In her first official board report, Student Representative Jacquelinne Mondragon highlighted the Churchill County High School monthly Churchill Champions breakfast and the robotics teams. Mondragon said the Churchill Champions program is important because outstanding students are recognized, and the breakfast brings the community together.

Mondragon also mentioned the school’s two robotics teams already rank high in the state although they formed last year.

• In other business, the board unanimously approved the audited financial statements for year-end 2023 as presented by Chad Atkinson and Kelli Jones-Mesko of HintonBurdick CPAs and Advisors and CCSD Comptroller Christi Fielding.

• In another item, the board unanimously moved to sell the CCHS student-built house at 414 Discovery Dr., and accepted a bid by Josh Berney of Berney Realty to act as broker for the sale.