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Washoe County trustees hear progress report on strategic plan pillars; district highlights EL supports and attendance work
Summary
District leaders reviewed progress on the strategic plan's pillars, reporting expanded English learner staffing, new instructional coaching and curriculum adoptions, recruitment gains and targeted work on chronic absenteeism and family outreach.
Washoe County School District leaders on Tuesday presented a "milestones and momentum" update, describing progress on the district's strategic plan pillars including consistent standards-aligned instruction, early learning and student supports.
"We want to make sure that all of our students are mastering grade level standards," Chief Academic Officer Dr. Troy Parks said as he described Pillar A work on curriculum, instruction and language development supports.
Parks told trustees the district had increased English learner staffing and launched English Language Facilitators (ELFs) at sites so administrators and teachers could embed academic language instruction in every content area. He said principals reported positive feedback: about 80% of principals "agree or strongly agree" that an ELF is an asset at their site and about 90% said the site had improved with the ELF model.
The district also described recent curriculum work: a new K'5 math adoption (McGraw Hill) and middle-school materials (Amplify/Desmos), continued implementation of the Science of Reading foundations, and investments in I-Ready diagnostic and instructional tools. A short video with students shown to the board included students saying the program "fills in the gaps for the students based on the diagnostic" and that it adjusts lessons to individual levels.
On staffing and retention, Chief Human Resources Officer Doug Owen said the district had reduced certified teacher vacancies from about 4.5% to below 4% over two years and had lowered classified support vacancy rates as well. Owen described steps to streamline recruitment and professional learning, including an expanded substitute training pathway and principal and secretary academies.
Trustees and district leaders stressed chronic absenteeism as a priority. Chief Student and Family Supports Officer Paul LaMarca said the district had expanded parent-teacher home visits to 41 schools (from 25 the prior year) and that about 350 educators conducted roughly 1,200 home visits in the first semester. The district is partnering with community groups and media campaigns to promote attendance.
Trustees commended the work. Trustee Westlake praised school-level initiatives, saying principals were applying consistent strategies while giving each school its own "flair." Trustee Hall highlighted the district's progress on school choice and on giving families more access to preferred schools.
The presentation covered data tools and accountability, including data dashboards and an "early warning" report that helps track freshmen at risk of falling off-track. Staff said those dashboards are drillable to teacher and student levels to help school planning.
The board received the report for discussion; no action was taken.
