Five Questions for Carson City School Board Trustee Candidate Richard Varner, District 4
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Wed, 04/13/2022 - 10:23am
In March, all candidates for local and state positions filed their intention to run for office, in everything from the senate to the school board.
The 2022 Nevada Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 14.
Early Voting begins on Saturday, May 28 and runs through Friday, June 10.
The 2022 Nevada General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8.
Early voting begins on Saturday, October 22 and runs through Friday, November 4.
Each candidate will be asked five questions relating to their position as a part of the Five Question series from Carson Now.
Richard Varner is running for Carson City School Trustee for District 4.
1) What is the greatest challenge our schools are facing currently?
I believe we have numerous challenges facing our district. These challenges include the looming funding issues due to the state’s new funding formula, the recruitment/retention of highly qualified educators and support staff and students’ wellbeing and learning loss due to past COVID restrictions, school closures and hybrid schedules.
2) What do you think is the solution to that challenge?
Continue to work with state legislators in an effort to obtain an increase in funding to K-12 education. The district needs to continue applying for grants which would bring in necessary funds to provide additional programs for tutoring, enrichment, and provide supplemental materials for student learning.
Continue to recruit highly qualified candidates to teach in Carson City, and encourage current support staff in their desire to become certified educators. The district needs to continue to create a work environment where individuals feel supported and appreciated.
Support students and families to overcome learning loss by creating more (before, during, and after school) extended learning programs that are researched based. Offering education to help families support student learning. Finally, providing professional development, helping educators identify and overcome areas of students’ learning loss.
3) What is the best decision the Carson City School Board has made in the past year, and why?
The best decision the Carson City School Board has made in the past year in my opinion was to open the schools to in-person learning (hybrid at first and evolving to more in-seat time) allowing students to receive instruction directly from their teachers and having the opportunity once again to socially interact with their peers.
4) What in your background makes you an ideal candidate for the school board?
I have spent the majority of my adult life in public service. Beginning with enlisting in the U.S. Army at age 18 and serving two tours of duty in Vietnam. Additionally, I spent 41 years in law enforcement within Nevada retiring as a Major with the Nevada Highway Patrol. I then served as the Chief of Police for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. During this time I gained valuable insight into how to problem solve, and how to manage programs, budgets and personnel.
For the last three plus years I have served as a trustee on the Carson City School Board. During this time I have served as the clerk, vice president and currently the president of the board. This experience has allowed me to understand the ins and outs of education and become very familiar with the issues facing the Carson City School District. I am personally invested in the District because I have grandchildren attending our schools and my wife has been teaching in our district for 27 years. I have developed a great appreciation of the very dedicated administrative, certified and classified staff who work incredibly hard each day to provide our children with a quality education.
5) What is the top priority project or idea that you like the school board to implement in the next five years?
My top priority at this time is to continue to address the safety, wellbeing and learning loss of our students. Future priorities include continuing to improve the physical security of our schools while balancing school security with a positive learning environment for students. The board and district needs to plan for future student population growth, and aggressively recruit and retain highly qualified educators in the growing national trend of educator shortages.
