Board approves $99.5 million for Reed High modernization and design work for new Pine‑campus elementary

The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 11 approved $99,500,000 for a two-part capital package that funds the construction phase of the Edward C. Reed High School modernization and pays for design work to replace/repurpose facilities on the Edward L. Pine Middle School campus to create a new elementary school.

The trustees voted 7–0 to adopt the recommendation of the district's Capital Funding Protection Committee after a presentation from Chief Facilities Management Officer Tammy Zimmerman. "But we're asking for $99,500,000 today to do those improvements and get that design started," Zimmerman told the board.

Why it matters: the package combines near-term construction for Reed High's long-planned modernization with design and early funding to convert the Pine campus to an elementary school so the district can sequence school openings and closures without leaving the site vacant.

What trustees approved and why: Zimmerman said the Reed project includes about 70,000 square feet of additions and upgrades (athletic improvements, band addition, remodeled restrooms, an expanded media center, single-point entry and upgraded security camera systems), plus funds for professional services, permits and furnishings. For the Pine campus, the board approved design-phase funding to evaluate keeping parts of the existing steel structure, complete building/site assessments, produce conceptual design and solicit a construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) to finish design and bid the work.

Zimmerman described the Pine process as beginning with a building assessment in February, a conceptual design cycle through June 2025 and a CMAR selection in mid-2025. If the structure assessment allows reuse of some steel framing, she said, it will speed work and reduce cost; roof and HVAC systems would be replaced in any scenario. The board heard an initial design-phase estimate of about $2 million for concept design and an overall design ask of $12 million to cover site assessment, conceptual design and full design work with remaining savings rolled into construction.

Cost breakdown and contingencies: the project presentation divided expenditures into three buckets: construction, professional services (including inspection and permit fees) and furnishings/fixtures/equipment. The contractor contingency shown in the presentation was 22.5 percent with a 5 percent district contingency; the team said alternates had been prioritized so the board could award a project even if not all add-ons were funded.

Community process and questions: trustees asked for clarity about which schools’ students would move to the new Pine-site elementary. Trustee Christine Hall pressed the district to confirm that no boundary/zoning decisions had been made; Zimmerman and staff said the design phase is intended to be flexible and would include broad community engagement, coordination with zoning officials and principal-level outreach to shape programmatic choices. Trustee Hall asked whether existing classrooms outside the new construction would receive new furniture; Zimmerman said the current budget covers furniture for the new classroom spaces and that relocation of equipment from mobile units could replenish some older rooms but did not commit to wholesale replacement of existing classroom furniture.

Next steps and timing: Zimmerman said the district plans to start site assessment work immediately if approved, solicit a CMAR in summer 2025 and target partial occupancy for some students in fall 2026 with completion of the full Reed modernization by fall 2027. The board's motion to approve the $99.5 million package passed 7–0.

Votes at a glance: The motion to approve $99,500,000 in 2024–25 Major Projects Program funding for Reed High modernization (construction phase) and design-phase funding for a new elementary on the Pine campus was made and seconded during the Feb. 11 meeting; the board recorded the motion as adopted 7–0.

What remains open: the district emphasized that conceptual design and CMAR work still must confirm how much of the existing Pine structure is reusable, final alternates to include and which neighborhoods will be rezoned if and when a new school enrollment plan is proposed. Staff said community design meetings will follow the assessment and conceptual design work.

Ending: Trustees framed the vote as a step in a multi-year facilities modernization plan and emphasized continued community outreach as the district moves from concept to construction.