CCSD board approves CHS High Tech Center transfer from WNC

Western Nevada College has expressed interest in transferring ownership of its Jim Randolph High Tech Center on the Carson High School campus to the Carson City School District, a move the Board of Trustees approved Tuesday.

The final exchange is subject to approval by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents at its next meeting in September, CCSD Superintendent Andrew Feuling said, after which the district Board of Trustees can execute the transfer.

The college and the district entered their first joint use agreement for the building in February 2000 after it was built and established under WNC’s ownership. The agreement was renewed for one year last August. As academic needs have evolved, discussions between the administrations decided it would be in the best interest to turn over the HTC’s ownership to the CCSD for exclusive use in a rapid manner, Feuling presented to the trustees.

“Many people don’t know; as you drive by, you assume it’s part of Carson High School, which we certainly use the building,” he said.

The building was paid for by the Nevada Legislature in 1997. It has housed evening college classes and made technology accessible for high school students.

“Over time, that night usage has just tapered off and I think the nature of what college education has become — much of it moving to online programming, much of it in our case here with Western Nevada College, a lot of JumpStart enrollments where you don’t necessarily need that online presence — so we’ve gotten to a point where WNC doesn’t seem to need to have that physical presence during the nighttime hours,” Feuling said.

The transfer would help save the college paying the costs for maintaining at night, he said, so it makes sense to provide it to the district.

The center also serves as a home for other high-interest academic or extracurricular activities for the district’s K-12 population and benefits Carson High weeklong. Recently, students and families were invited within its doors for a range of community events such as Day of the Child or an art expo demonstrating the creations students made or designed in photography, graphic design, drawing, painting or ceramics.

The agreement and attendant quitclaim deed, transferring the title of a property from one entity to another without amendments or additions, was drafted by district attorney Ryan Russell representing the law firm Allison MacKenzie, Ltd. The document states purchase price for the building from WNC to the CCSD is $100.

“We also made it clear to WNC that if there ever is desire to use that facility at night or if they ever really did need space, we would really appreciate the relationship we have them and would want to support the cause as well,” Feuling said.

The board approved the motion to accept the transfer in a 4-0 vote. Trustees Joe Cacioppo, Laurel Crossman and Molly Walt were absent.