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Board restores admin‑facility funding and advances phased rebuild of Wooster High in revised CIP
Summary
Following months of public input, the Washoe County School District board on June 9 directed staff to return a revised 10‑year capital improvement plan that restores funding for future administrative facilities and advances a phased reconstruction of Wooster High School; the recommendations also remove a proposed 10‑year textbook allocation.
After an extended public process and repeated committee review, the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees on June 9 directed staff to move forward with a revised 10‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) that restores previously approved funding for future administrative facilities and advances a phased full reconstruction of Wooster High School.
District staff described the CIP as the product of a multi‑month, iterative public review that included the Capital Funding Protection Committee, the board and extensive community input. Staff said changes in project scope and timing are normal as design, enrollment forecasts and funding assumptions evolve, but the district acknowledged it must do a better job of surfacing scope changes early to committee members and the public.
Chief operating officer Adam Cersi and chief facilities management officer Tammy Zimmerman walked trustees through the revised recommendations. Zimmermann said the district's plan envisions a phased, multi‑year reconstruction process at Wooster that would begin next school year with an academic engagement and planning process to define educational scope and community priorities. "This will be an investment in this community that will impact these students for years to come," Zimmerman said.
CFO Mark Mathers explained the funding changes in practical terms. He said converting several projects from modernization scopes to full reconstructions (including Wooster) increased the CIP cost by roughly $85 million, while removing textbook funding represented roughly $33 million over 10 years; staff proposed covering the remaining net increase by drawing down some previously preserved reserves, leaving significant resources and bonding capacity for years 11–20. Mathers framed the approach as financially responsible and within conservative revenue projections.
Public comment shaped the discussion. Dozens of Worster students, alumni, parents and staff urged a full rebuild, describing aging classrooms, asbestos concerns in older wings, theater and ventilation problems and the importance of college‑preparatory programs such as the International Baccalaureate on the campus. Principal David Kitchen and student representatives said a rebuilt Wooster could expand program offerings and help stabilize or grow enrollment.
Trustee Smith moved and Trustee Westlake seconded a motion directing the superintendent to return the revised CIP — including the phased reconstruction of Wooster High and restored admin‑facility funding — to the Capital Funding Protection Committee for reconsideration. The motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The CIP sets the district's long‑range capital priorities and funding plan. The decision to restore admin‑facility funding while advancing Wooster's reconstruction reflects tradeoffs among facilities, operations and equity; staff said the revised plan retains a substantial reserve and bonding capacity for projects beyond year 10.
What comes next: Staff will return the revised CIP to the Capital Funding Protection Committee and continue the district's planning and community engagement for phased implementation at Wooster.
