Board approves $22.7M major‑projects program including North Valleys modernization and annual device refresh

The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees approved on Aug. 26 the Capital Funding Protection Committee’s 2025–26 major projects program totaling $22,700,000.

District facilities staff described three primary components in the package presented to trustees: (1) predesign and community engagement funding to begin a modernization planning process for Sparks High School’s historic campus (staff said Sparks High is not being torn down but will be modernized), (2) design and future construction funding steps for North Valleys High School modernization — for which staff requested $16,500,000 to proceed through design and preparation work — and (3) the district’s annual technology-device refresh program, for which Chief Technology Officer Dr. Turner requested $5,200,000 to replace teacher and student devices in a rolling five‑year cycle.

On Sparks High, Chief Facilities Management Officer Tammy Zimmerman said the district will request qualifications from architects and begin predesign work to engage alumni and the community about possibilities for modernizing a landlocked, historic campus. Staff recommended hiring a construction manager‑at‑risk for North Valleys once design advances; the $16.5 million request for North Valleys is part of the board‑approved FMP funding plan and would support preconstruction design, permitting and CMAR procurement.

Dr. Turner explained the technology refresh is the program’s fifth year and is designed to replace roughly 20% of student and teacher devices annually (the district’s target is approximately 700 teacher computers and 10,000 student devices per year), to respond to rising hardware costs and to replace end‑of‑life equipment. He described asset‑management and e‑waste processes the district uses to remove unsupported or seven‑year‑old devices and noted the district procures devices in a defined purchasing window while e‑waste removal happens year‑round.

Trustees asked staff about device disposal and whether schools see gaps when old devices are removed; IT staff said inventory tools and ongoing communication with principals inform refresh and e‑waste scheduling so principals and IT staff can coordinate to minimize gaps. Trustees also asked clarifying questions about Sparks High and North Valleys project timing and community engagement.

Trustee Phoenix moved to approve the committee recommendation; Trustee Nicollet seconded. The board voted unanimously to approve the $22.7 million major‑projects program for 2025–26.