Nevada R‑V board approves preschool literacy purchase, renews instructional and physical‑plant levies and adopts budget amendment

The Nevada Community School District Board of Education on Aug. 4 approved a two‑year purchase of a standardized preschool literacy curriculum, voted to renew the district’s five‑year instructional support levy (ISL), and adopted a resolution to place continuation of the district’s physical plant and equipment levy (PEPL) on the November ballot. The board also approved a fiscal‑year 2026 budget amendment and passed several routine consent items.

School board members said the literacy purchase is intended to give preschool teachers a consistent scope and sequence and to link classroom activities directly to the district’s Gold assessment reporting. “We currently do not have a…set curriculum that we use in preschool,” Principal Kristen Nye said, describing how the Creative Curriculum materials align unit objectives to the Gold early‑learning assessment. Nye said the curriculum includes professional development and community‑engagement materials and that teachers will use Monday professional‑development time to prepare.

Dr. Asmus, the district superintendent, told the board the district’s long‑standing, board‑approved five‑year instructional support levy generates about $787,000 annually, of which roughly $563,000 comes from income surtaxes. He said the ISL supports “teaching and learning, which is most of what we do here,” and that the district must pass a resolution to continue the levy before it expires in 2026.

The board also approved placing on the November ballot a measure to continue the physical plant and equipment levy, which funds building and vehicle repairs and other capital needs and is scheduled to expire in 2027. Administrators said the district has historically levied about half the authorized PEPL amount and plans voter outreach, including a postcard and social‑media posts, prior to the election.

On the curriculum purchase, the board approved the Creative Curriculum preschool literacy program, which administrators described as a two‑year agreement for printed classroom kits and built‑in professional development. The packet and discussion included two different cost figures in the transcript: a detailed line saying “$21,222,120 dollars for the 2 years” and a separate motion that recorded the billing total as $21,220. Business staff told the board the district will pay by purchase order to avoid a credit‑card processing fee, and that ongoing annual digital subscription costs after the initial purchase are projected at roughly $1,000–$1,100 per teacher (estimated at about $4,000 districtwide). Administrators said they expect materials to arrive within days of ordering and that the first day of preschool is Aug. 28.

The board approved a FY‑26 budget amendment that administrators described as an accounting update and said would not raise local taxes. “There will be no increase in taxes on anything we’re doing here,” a board member read from the amendment text during the meeting.

Votes at a glance - FY‑26 budget amendment: motion and second; passed (unanimous). - Continue five‑year instructional support levy (board resolution): motion and second; passed by roll call (unanimous). - Resolution ordering election to continue the physical plant and equipment levy: motion and second; passed (unanimous). - Final reading, policy update 905.1 r1 (district facility usage and updated rates): motion and second; passed (unanimous). - Purchase of Creative Curriculum preschool literacy program (packet presentation; billing figure cited as $21,220 in motion): motion and second; passed. - Consent agenda (including two recommended hires): motion and second; passed.

Board members and administrators emphasized outreach and fiscal prudence. Superintendent Asmus and business staff said the PEPL renewal is being placed on the November ballot to avoid the cost of a special election next year, and noted the district plans mail and social media outreach and to include historical levy data in communications. Administrators said much of the Creative Curriculum purchase can be funded from existing curriculum accounts and Title funding, and that recurring subscription costs will be folded into future curriculum budgets.

The meeting also included a discussion of the district’s Hudl (sports‑video) equipment and usage by multiple sports programs and routine personnel and financial items included on the consent agenda. The board adjourned after member comments and scheduling follow‑up.