The Commission on School Funding convened on September 13, 2024, at 9:00 AM, hosted by the Nevada Department of Education. The meeting focused on several key updates regarding operational efficiency, staffing, and legislative changes impacting school funding.

The meeting began with a report on the department's recent efficiency study, which aimed to identify areas for improvement and modernization. The study resulted in a comprehensive report, leading to immediate changes, including the relocation of the audit unit to better align with the office overseeing pupil enrollment and attendance audits. This move is intended to enhance the accuracy of enrollment data used for funding adjustments.

Next, the discussion shifted to staffing updates. The department had requested 17 new positions to support its operations, a recommendation stemming from both the efficiency study and the Commission's previous suggestions. However, only 8 positions were approved. Among these, an administrative services officer and a budget analyst were highlighted as crucial roles to support operational functions and revenue projections, respectively. The addition of these positions is expected to improve the department's ability to model funding impacts more effectively.

The meeting also addressed the challenges posed by a recent cybersecurity attack that affected the department's operations. Although the department's files were reportedly not compromised, the attack led to a temporary lockdown of systems, complicating year-end processes. The team managed to navigate these challenges and successfully processed payments, demonstrating resilience amid the disruption.

Legislative updates were another significant focus of the meeting. Several recommendations from the Commission were successfully adopted into new bills. Notably, Senate Bill 81 eliminated redundant reporting requirements and shifted the obligation for school districts to publish quarterly expenditures from print newspapers to their websites, thereby reducing costs and improving accessibility for stakeholders. Additionally, changes to class size reduction reporting were discussed, with efforts underway to streamline the frequency of these reports.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the department's commitment to improving operational efficiency and adapting to legislative changes while navigating recent challenges. The next steps include ongoing recruitment for the newly approved positions and continued collaboration with legislative bodies to implement the adopted recommendations effectively.