The Humboldt County School District (HCSD) Board of Trustees passed a motion to implement a resolution of political neutrality at their most recent meeting on Oct 25.
Vicechair Abram Swensen, Legal Council, John Doyle, and Vice Superintendent, Will Jensen were absent from the meeting, and Board Clerk, Nicole Bengochea was present for the first item on the agenda.
The Board held important discussions about the increasing politicization of education and the practices of more metropolitan areas surrounding Humboldt County, which were also discussed at their previous meeting on Oct. 5.
The Board unanimously agreed that although the HCSD is not seeing issues within classrooms presently, the pressure from politically-motivated external bodies requires the Board to protect the best interest of students, which is to help grow their critical thinking skills so that they can form their own opinions.
“We have full faith in our staff, they’re doing the right things, they’re teaching the facts, but the pressures outside of Humboldt County are growing,” said HCSD Superintendent, Dr. Dave Jensen.
Passing the resolution allows the Board to ensure that teachers are educating their students about verifiable truths, but are not imposing opinion-based information into their lessons that would influence students’ direction of thinking.
“We have an obligation to teach facts,” said Jensen.
The Board also discussed the nature of history and that even the darker parts have to be taught in order for students to understand what happened, but they also need to be able to discern that they are not responsible for them. The crux of the resolution allows the Board to rest in alignment with standards passed down from the state, rather than political influences.
“This just affirms that ability for the Board and for each of us to say ‘we are not teaching those things that are contrary to what we believe are inherently right for us to teach and are not aligned to state standards’.”
• A motion to consider early incentive buy-outs for certified teachers passed unanimously.
Those teachers that have been with the HCSD for 20 plus years are eligible to submit an application which allows the district to buy years towards their retirement.
Historically, HCSD has chosen to consider the applications for early buy-outs. The passing of the motion allows for the Board to consider applicants on a case-by-case basis and gives the Board flexibility to maintain positions even if the budget calls for reductions.
According to Dr. Jensen, if the Board decides to purchase years from teachers, the costs can be recovered through certain funds.
• The Board passed a motion to implement a resolution that allows long-term substitute teachers (contracted for the full school year) 15 days of paid sick leave and two days of paid personal leave. The current policy allows for leave but it is unpaid.
The HCSD has struggled to maintain a full staff and has had to use long-term substitute teachers. Incentivizing substitute teachers has been a major interest to the Board and it was agreed that this policy is important for those that have stepped up to help HCSD and the students.
“The intent of this agenda item is to consider options to support individuals who have provided a long term commitment to meet the educational needs of students,” states the agenda.
According to the resolution, the leave will only be allotted for the year that the long-term sub is contracted and will not roll over as it does for Certified Teachers. Subs are also not eligible for retirement (PERS), but the additional incentives help the HCSD to maintain the teachers they currently have and to take personal circumstances into consideration.
“I think this is an important benefit,” said HCSD Trustee Sabrina Uhlmann.
• The Board considered information about further steps to be taken with HCSD facility assessments.
Recently, facility assessments were performed by McElhaney Structural Engineers, LLC in order to determine the integrity of HCSD infrastructure.
The assessment findings identify seven facilities that need further evaluation, with WGS, identified as a priority, due to its age.
The Board agreed that maintaining the schools and other buildings in the district is very important not only in regards to cost, but for safety.
• With the recent purchase of mobile weapons detections systems, the Board was required to consider policies in regards to their use.
The units allow students to walk through them and provide operators with hand wands to be used as well. The systems are not intended as permanent units, but to be used in responding to specific incidents or for special events.
The systems will be used at Lowry High School, Winnemucca Junior High, and McDermitt Combined School.
According to Dr. Jensen, special training for the units will take place on Nov. 18 and 19.
The Board agreed that having this safety measure available is of great benefit to HCSD.
• The Trustees heard a presentation from Winnemucca Junior High School (WJHS) Principal, Kelly Novi, and Vice Principal, Dustin Christine, about current academic programming, operations, student achievement, and plans for improvement.
The installation of the new WJHS HV/AC system was finished just in time for the cold weather, according to Principal Novi, which has made both staff and students more comfortable while in the classroom.
WJHS greatly benefits from the Communities in Schools program which aims to support those students with resources they may not otherwise have access to, according to Novi.
Updates in courses and curriculum have helped students and teachers learn based on standards and to make improvements in the understanding of the materials.
• The Board passed a motion to upgrade the audio enhancement system at the Winnemucca Grammar School (WGS) to include cameras.
The in-classroom cameras are controlled by teachers and allow lessons to be recorded and shared, as well as an extra safety measure to both teachers and students.
According to Dr. Jensen, the bell and intercom systems will also be a part of the upgrades, which will be covered by bond funds.
• The Board approved a standing tuition agreement with Pershing County that allows HCSD to service students who live in Pershing County but live closer to schools in HCSD.
Due to the adjacency of counties, there are 155 students who live in Pershing County that are considerably closer to schools in Humboldt County. The tuition agreement allows for these students to go to the school that is closer to them, instead of having to travel extensively to and from a school in Pershing.
HCSD currently receives compensation on a per/student basis, but the tuition agreement allotts HCSD 239 dollars per Pershing County student as well.
Pershing County is still responsible for transporting students, according to Dr. Jensen.
• The Board heard a reading of a potential policy, required by the Nevada Department of Education, that involves withholding a portion of grant funds for administrative costs.
According to Dr. Jensen, HCSD does not practice this, but during a recent audit by the NDE, it was determined that a policy must still be put in place.
• The Board reviewed their protocols for school board operations.