Scarceli Elementary highlights improved attendance, science‑of‑reading work and staffing needs

Scarceli Elementary School leaders presented the school’s programs, progress and staffing needs to the Douglas County School District Board of Trustees.

Principal Susan McNeil and Assistant Principal Molly Ravenscroft described site initiatives including PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), a monthly “Cheetah Champ” student‑recognition program, family‑engagement events and school‑wide STEM and arts activities. McNeil said Scarceli enrolls about 307 students and includes a comprehensive life‑skills program with roughly 10 students.

Why it matters: Site‑level plans and staffing requests shape classroom instruction and district budget priorities. Scarceli leaders asked trustees to visit, and they highlighted a continuing local challenge: hiring special‑education personnel.

Key details from the presentation - Attendance: McNeil said Scarceli reduced chronic absenteeism from about 18.5 percent to 12.1 percent over the prior year, crediting outreach and a social worker who is on site three days per week. - Academic goals: The school reported it is a three‑star school on the state Smarter Balanced Assessment; leaders set goals to raise English-language-arts proficiency from 46% toward 53% and math from 41% toward 50% on spring assessments. - Instructional priorities: Scarceli is implementing the “science of reading” approach for phonics and phonemic awareness; teachers are using unit planning and “deeper learning” strategies across subjects. - Interventions and staffing requests: The school received board intervention funds to hire a part‑time math interventionist but reported difficulty recruiting substitutes or part‑time staff for intervention pull‑outs. Leaders asked for district support to recruit special‑education educators; a half‑time special‑education position at Scarceli was still open. - Enrichment and programs: The school described arts and music events, a Trout in the Classroom science project run in partnership with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, hydroponics in classrooms, and a dog‑reading program called Mochi that pairs a therapy dog with students for literacy practice.

Trustee discussion and questions Trustees asked how the school chose its spring proficiency targets; McNeil said the goals were ambitious and reflected past performance and encouragement from district staff. Trustees also pressed for clarity about ELL (English‑language learner) counts — McNeil said Scarceli’s ELL cohort is relatively small and that small sample size can swing percentages. Trustees commended the school for the drop in chronic absenteeism.

Ending Scarceli leaders asked the board to visit the campus and to support recruitment of special‑education staff. Trustees thanked McNeil and Ravenscroft and said they would review the staff requests as part of district staffing and budget planning.