Nevada Association of School Boards urges state lawmakers to partner on rural construction, universal meals and safety

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Association of School Boards (NASB) presented its priorities to the Senate Committee on Education, outlining advocacy goals that include rural school construction partnerships, universal school meals, professional development for trustees and student- and staff-safety policies.

NASB leaders — President Michael Walker, Executive Director Rick Harris and policy representative Nicole Flingas — told the committee that the association represents elected trustees from all 17 school districts and serves as a central point of contact for lawmakers considering K–12 policy.

Why it matters: School districts across Nevada vary widely in size and tax base; NASB asked lawmakers to consider state-level partnership tools to help rural districts afford large capital projects and to consult NASB when drafting bills that affect local control, school finance and operations.

Key points presented

Rural construction partnerships: NASB described a three-part approach where local tax measures, bonding capacity and state assistance would combine to fill financing gaps for construction and major repairs in rural districts that lack bonding capacity. NASB said conversations with stakeholders have started and that it will continue to refine proposals this session.

Professional development and mentoring: NASB highlighted required trustee professional development under Nevada law (NRS 386.327) and described mentoring and an advanced certified public-officials track aimed at strengthening local governance.

Student and staff safety: NASB said it supports policies that enhance safety but urged lawmakers to engage NASB when crafting measures to ensure they are feasible for local districts to implement.

Universal school meals: NASB reiterated its support for universal breakfast and lunch, arguing that consistent access to nutrition supports learning and reduces disparities. NASB leaders told senators that principals and food-service staff have approaches, such as smaller-batch cooking and share tables, to limit waste, and they offered to supply district-level data on meal participation and unpaid meal balances to the committee on request.

Committee reaction and next steps

Senators asked follow-up questions about the construction proposals, how to pair local and state funding, and about data showing increased reliance on school meals. NASB committed to providing district-level data and to continue working with lawmakers on both construction financing and meal-program questions.

Ending note

NASB emphasized local trustees’ role in school oversight and asked legislators to consult the association when drafting K–12 policy. The presentation concluded without formal committee action.