Most of EPIC’s $2.48 million went to teachers

Of $6.5 million in federal funds directed toward the Douglas County School District, $2.7 million was spent on staff, according to the Nevada Department of Education.

Nevada received $1.49 billion under the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money, according to the nevadaesser.org site. Of that $1.2 billion went to the Clark County School District, one of the largest in the nation.

Washoe County received $121.6 million and Nevada’s charter schools received $82.6 million.

Among the rural counties, Lyon received the most with $17.8 million, while Carson City received $15.4 million.

On Friday, former Douglas County School Superintendent Keith Lewis said that $2.48 million of the total was spent on the EPIC Learning program.

The Empower, Prepare, Inspire, Connect learning program is “aimed at updating the learning experience in Douglas County schools to better suit the latest generation’s needs,” according to the school district’s web site.

“Specifically, $1.77 million has been invested in staffing, covering salaries and benefits for instructional coaches, who were hired to work directly with classroom teachers, and to provide additional compensation to teachers who participated in professional development outside the normal workday,” he said on Friday.

According to the state’s web site, $910,925 in EPIC spending went to a baker’s dozen of collaborative coaches.

“An additional $715,944 was spent on classroom equipment and supplies, including interactive panels, Chromebooks for teachers, audio enhancement systems, classroom furniture, and video conferencing cameras,” he said.

All the expenditures were approved by the state Department of Education, where they are listed in detail.

“It is not possible to spend grant money on anything that is not specifically approved within the grant guidelines,” Lewis said. “Each transaction was supported by receipts, ensuring that DCSD adhered to the strict guidelines set forth by the federal funding program.”

According to the state’s web site, $897,334 was spent on employee bonuses and another $894,807 on upgrading heating and air conditioning in the schools.

Lewis’ predecessor, Superintendent Teri White, said the district was moving forward with Modern Teacher on Sept. 10, 2019, and was soliciting teachers to be part of the first cohort. That was when she first informed trustees the program would be branded EPIC Learning.

In August, Gardnerville Town Board members approved a plan to fly three dozen flags off its light poles February to April 2025 touting Portrait of a Learner and showing students working in the EPIC program.

“We talk about students being empowered, prepared, inspired and connected (EPIC),” said Assistant Director of Educational Services Leslie Peters. “Our design team set out to reeducate the district and community about what that means.”