Carson City School District begins work on new master plan

During the last five years — thanks in large part to a 2010 bond measure passed by the community — the Carson City School District has been able to meet its most pressing facility and technology needs.

But another major reason why those needs were met was the work of a Master Plan Committee who set the priorities for the district when it came to providing for needed facilities and technology. That committee put together a five-year plan for 2010 through 2015 that met the needs for the district.

Now community members and those affiliated with the district are meeting again to make up a Master Plan Committee that will set facility priorities for the next five years from 2016-2020. The committee met for the first time Thursday in what was essentially an introductory meeting to lay out the task ahead.

The committee will hold several meetings, with the next meeting scheduled for Oct. 28. Carson City Schools Superintendent Richard Stokes said the goal is for the committee to come up with a five-year plan for the school board to consider by the late winter or early spring.

Stokes talked about the Master Plan Committee’s work during the previous five years, saying “much has been accomplished, some really terrific things.”

He also addressed the committee’s mandate.

“It’s important that we’re good stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars,” he said.

Stokes said because the district has done well in maintaining and upgrading facilities and technology, “we’re not in a position that we have to go out and ask the people for a school bond.”

District Director of Operations Mark Korinek reviewed what has been provided by the 2010 bond. He also reviewed energy savings that have resulted from solar projects.

He said the district projected an energy savings of $375,600 a year. But in 2013-2014, the district paid $590,000 less in energy costs than it did in 2009-2010.

One adjustment the district made in its master plan came as a result of the Sandy Hook mass shooting in 2012. As a result, the district made a revision in which all of its schools would have just one entrance.

Korinek also reviewed all of the school bond projects done, which involved every school in the district: the Early Childhood Center, Empire, Fremont, Fritsch, Mark Twain, Seeliger and Bordewich Bray elementary schools, Carson and Eagle Valley middle schools and Carson and Pioneer high schools.

Empire, where $8 million was spent, Eagle Valley and Carson High School were the beneficiaries of a large chunk of the bond projects. Eagle Valley’s gym was expanded into a cafeteria-multi purpose building.

New photo and engineering labs were developed and welding and ag programs along with other technology were enhanced at CHS. Pick-up and drop off areas for students which were a problem at Seeliger and Fremont also were redesigned.

Priorities for the committee to consider going forward include early child education and enhancing Carson High’s career technical education and Science Technology, Engineering Art and Math programs.

A priority put on hold from the previous master plan the committee could also consider is a 350-seat performing arts center at CHS.