Carson City trustees elect Molly Walt, shift meetings to 6 p.m. and authorize grant signatories

The Carson City School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 13 appointed Molly Walt as board president, approved a revised meeting schedule and formally authorized district officials to apply for and manage grant funding.

Trustees nominated and approved a slate for the 2026 leadership team — Molly Walt as president, Richard Varner for vice president and Michelle Peterson for clerk — after the board opened nominations and voted to approve the panel. The motion to approve the slate was made by Trustee Clapin and seconded by Trustee Roberts; the board voted in favor and the microphone was handed to President Walt, who said, "Thank you." President Lupe Ramirez also congratulated the new leadership team.

The board designated the second and fourth Tuesday of each month as regular meeting days at the Robert Kroll boardroom, 851 E. Williams St., and amended the standard start time from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the meeting after a trustee suggested the earlier start to shorten late evenings for staff. The amended motion passed unanimously.

On a separate, unanimous motion the board authorized the superintendent, the chief academic officer, the chief financial and operations officer and the grants manager to research, apply for, accept and manage federal, state, local, foundation and private grants on behalf of the district. Associate Superintendent/Chief Human Resources Officer Dan Sadler presented that item as a routine, annual authorization.

Trustees also approved a set of committee and association appointments and confirmed individual trustee liaisons to district schools, all by unanimous voice votes. The board approved the consent agenda without objection.

Next steps: Several approved appointments and the meeting-time change take immediate effect; routine authorizations related to grant management will be used as needed when the district pursues funding opportunities.