Washoe County school board weighs $3M demolition, $825K design contract; upcoming meeting to consider free transit passes
The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees met July 28 and considered a $3 million demolition of Edward L. Pine Middle School and an $825,000 architecture contract for the Sparks Middle School reconstruction, among 40 consent agenda items. Minutes have not yet been published, so official outcomes are not available. The board also took up a $249,000 suicide prevention program for all middle schools and a $408,000 emergency repair of underground fuel lines at the Orville Schultz Transportation Center.
Board of Trustees considers demolition, design contracts (July 28)
The board’s consent agenda included:
- $3,000,000 bid for demolition of Edward L. Pine Middle School (item 2.31)
- $825,000 architecture services contract with TSK Architects for Sparks Middle School reconstruction (item 2.14)
- $249,000 Memorandum of Agreement with The Children’s Cabinet for the Signs of Suicide program at all middle schools (item 2.06)
- $408,000 emergency repair of underground fuel lines at Orville Schultz Transportation Center (item 2.18)
- $176,224.88 purchase of a disaster recovery backup system from CDWG (item 2.07)
All items were listed on the agenda for possible approval. The meeting summary indicates the board considered these actions, but the minutes are not yet published.
School Naming Committee narrows elementary school name (July 27)
The School Naming Committee met July 27 to review semi-finalist name submissions for the new elementary school on the Edward L. Pine Middle School campus. The committee considered community feedback and created a finalist list of no more than three names to recommend to the Board of Trustees. The agenda included 18 submitted public comments on the naming item. Minutes have not yet been published.
Group Insurance Committee reviews HSA contributions (July 29)
The Group Insurance Committee met July 29 to review a claims experience report from May 2026 and considered recommending a change to the Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution amount for the 2027 Plan Year to the Board of Trustees. The committee also considered approving minutes from its June 24, 2026 meeting. No outcomes are available yet.
Capital Funding Protection Committee weighs $101 million in projects (Aug 6)
The Capital Funding Protection Committee met Aug. 6 to discuss and possibly recommend funding for several 2026/2027 “A” Major Projects Program items. The agenda included:
- $92,900,000.00 for construction of a new elementary school on the Edward L. Pine Middle School campus
- $10,500,000.00 for Libby Booth Elementary School modernization
- $7,000,000.00 for design phase of Sparks Middle School reconstruction
- $750,000.00 for due diligence phase of the Administrative Facility Master Project
These amounts were listed as possible recommendations; the committee’s minutes are not yet published.
Coming up: Board to consider free transit passes, buses, HVAC (Aug 11)
The Board of Trustees will meet Aug. 11 and is scheduled to hear a report on a 1-year pilot program providing free transit passes to students via the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). The board may direct the superintendent to negotiate a long-term agreement. Other agenda items include:
- Approval of a contract with Cerris Systems Reno, Inc. for HVAC controller upgrades at six elementary schools ($790,000)
- Approval of purchase of 10 new school buses via Utah state contract ($2,288,400)
- Approval of an agreement with PBS Reno for Curiosity Classroom workshops at all elementary schools ($125,000)
- Presentation and possible action on bill draft requests and legislative platform for the 2027 Nevada legislative session
The meeting is open to the public; check the district’s website for time and location.