Carson City school trustees OK critical labor shortage designation, discuss end of free school lunches
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Wed, 04/10/2024 - 4:37pm
Carson City School District Trustees approved a request Tuesday to designate a number of positions within the critical labor shortages category to help fill vacancies.
The positions are as follows:
- Certified Elementary Teaching Staff
- Certified Secondary Teaching Staff
- Certified Special Education Staff
- Custodial Staff
- English Learner Paraprofessionals
- Speech Language Pathologists
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Interpreters
- School Psychologists
- Special Education Paraprofessionals
- School Nurses
- School Bus Drivers
- Substitute Teachers
- Substitute School Nurses
- Substitute Custodians
According to Associate Superintendent Dan Sadler, last year, there were 60 open certified positions and 50 open classified positions, and while those numbers have gone down as positions have been filled, there is still a number of vacancies that need to be filled, though an exact number was not noted.
This year, Sadler said, there were a total of 12 employees who came back as FTE critical labor hires including three bus drivers and a large bulk was in special education.
“We’re trending in the right direction with hiring and we’re trending in the right direction with retention, but still may need the opportunity to bring someone in through critical need,” Sadler said.
Sadler said labor shortages are an issue throughout the region, and not only in Carson City. Trustee Joe Cacioppo said there has been positive impacts from the “home-grown” initiative, seeking individuals who grew up in the district and have now received their education to return to join the district.
By designating these positions as critical need, it allows the district to recruit retired public employees for key roles such as teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, substitute teachers, substitute school nurses, substitute custodians, and more.
The end of free school lunches funding
During the pandemic, federal funding was provided to schools throughout the state to provide free school lunches to all students regardless of their family’s economic status.
During a preliminary budgetary update, Director of Fiscal Services Spencer Winward stated there would be “likely no change but could be based on future decision for next year” when it came to nutrition services.
“Right now there is an ending fund balance in the nutrition fund that we think will cover any deficit if there will be one,” Winward said. “We’re not going to need a transfer from the general fund to the nutrition fund this year.”
Winward said that with the end in funding they are still searching for other opportunities for free and reduced option.
To continue providing free lunches for all students it would cost the district around $2 million each year, according to Winward.
Other items:
During a pre-meeting workshop, trustees also heard an update regarding student discipline as determined by the Nevada State Legislature in recent years. This includes reasons and time frames for suspensions, expulsions and permanent expulsions, discipline allowed for students with IEPs and more. A second workshop regarding implementation will be held at a later date.
Activities and Events:
- Wednesday, April 17, 2024 and April 24, 2024, Professional Learning for Staff;
students dismiss at the following times:
o Pre-K – 10:55 a.m.
o Carson High School – 11:40 a.m.
o Pioneer Academy – 11:50 a.m.
o Middle Schools – 12:00 p.m.
o Elementary Schools – 12:40 p.m.
— Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Community Connections, 6:00 p.m., Carson High School, Senator Square
