Carson City school trustees will meet Tuesday to hear plans for a potential performing arts center at Carson High, consider asking lawmakers to eliminate Nevada’s statewide educator evaluation framework, vote on proposed grading policy changes and review a new kindergarten assessment included in the district’s annual test security plan among other items.
The Carson City School District Board of Trustees will get its first look Tuesday at architectural work for a potential performing arts center at Carson High School.
According to the agenda, the idea of building an auditorium or performing arts center at Carson High has been discussed for years. A committee was formed two years ago to begin development and since then, has met several times to discuss what types of events could be held at the facility and what would be needed to accommodate them.
The agenda says Van Woert Bigotti Architects began developing drawings and considering possible locations for the facility. Representatives from the firm are scheduled to present that work to trustees Tuesday.
A separate staff report or additional details about the architects’ work, including how the firm was selected, the scope or cost of its work, or how the work was authorized was not included. However, Tuesday’s item is for discussion only, meaning trustees are not being asked to take action on the project at this time.
District seeks to eliminate statewide educator evaluation framework
Trustees will also consider approving Carson City School District’s single Bill Draft Request for the 2027 Nevada Legislature, which would seek to eliminate the Nevada Educator Performance Framework, or NEPF, as the statewide evaluation system for certified educators and give individual districts greater control over how employees are evaluated.
In its completed BDR, CCSD describes NEPF as “overly burdensome” and says the framework has not resulted in improved school or student outcomes during its approximately 10 years of use. The district also says recent research does not support NEPF as a mechanism for improving employee performance, though the agenda packet does not identify or include that research.
The agenda states the proposal would not eliminate educator evaluations altogether. While the packet does not include a proposed CCSD replacement system, an attachment provides sample language outlining state requirements, or “guardrails,” that could remain in place while districts develop their own evaluation systems.
The proposed language would also allow districts to use multi-year evaluation cycles or streamlined annual check-ins for employees with more than 10 years of experience who remain in good standing.
Currently, NEPF provides the statewide framework for evaluating teachers and administrators. Nevada law already allows districts to seek State Board of Education approval to use an alternative evaluation system, but those systems must meet standards and indicators equivalent to those required by the state.
The Legislature made several changes to NEPF during the 2025 session through Senate Bill 460, including revisions involving student-growth measures, observation requirements, performance improvement plans and evaluator certification. Portions of those changes are being phased in through July 1, 2027.
CCSD’s proposal argues that moving away from the statewide framework would also reduce administrative costs. When the BDR form asks applicants to identify any known costs to state or local government, the district responds, “This would actually be a signficant [sic] cost savings in time and money for school districts and the Nevada Department of Education.”
Cost estimates and savings were not included.
If approved by trustees, CCSD’s BDR must be submitted to the Legislative Counsel Bureau by Sept. 1.
See our prior reporting expanding on the NEPF item below:
Trustees hear second reading of revised grading policy
Trustees will also consider final approval of proposed changes to Policy 513, Reporting Student Progress, which would define mastery as earning at least 75% at the elementary level and 80% at the secondary level, or demonstrating mastery through a standards-aligned rubric.
The second-reading version also adds a definition of “timely:”
Timely means feedback is returned while the essential skills are actively being taught. This allows students time to reflect on their progress, relearn key concepts, and demonstrate improvement before taking an end-of-unit test.
The district has still refused to answer Carson Now’s questions regarding the proposed grading changes, and the new agenda packet provides no additional explanation of how officials determined that 75% should constitute mastery at the elementary level while 80% remains the threshold at the secondary level.
Regulation 513, which was expected to return alongside the policy after the Aug. 11 discussion, is not listed on Tuesday’s agenda. Policy 513 itself is listed for possible action.
See Carson Now’s previous reporting on the proposed mastery changes below.
New kindergarten assessment included in annual test security plan
Trustees will also consider adopting the district’s 2026-27 test security procedures, an annual requirement under state law.
According to the agenda packet, NWEA MAP is considered a state assessment this year for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, and students will also participate in a new Kindergarten Entry Assessment, or KEA. The packet does not specify whether the KEA is new statewide or only new to CCSD.
All students enrolled in grades where state assessments are administered are required to participate, including students with disabilities and English learners, with allowable accommodations or supports. Participation rates are also used in determining Nevada School Performance Framework ratings.
The plan outlines security requirements for test materials, online testing, student identification and the investigation of testing irregularities. Cellphones and smartwatches must be collected before testing, except for devices used with continuous glucose monitors. Cheating, unauthorized devices, inappropriate assistance or other irregularities can result in invalidated scores, corrective action and, in some cases, educator licensure sanctions.
- The plan also requires suspected testing irregularities to be reported to district and state officials and includes state protections for school employees who report violations. If approved, the district must submit the test security plan to the state by Sept. 1.
Other items
- Trustees will select a topic for the district’s 2026-27 Great American Essay Contest, an annual competition open to all students in Carson City. Six potential topics were submitted by principals this year ranging from constitutional rights to civic responsibilities. Winners will receive cash prizes of $100, $50 and $30 at each level.
- Under the consent agenda, trustees will review nearly 100 vaccination exemption requests submitted for this school year ranging from pre-K through high school. Nearly all are listed as religious exemptions, and are mostly in the middle and high school age groups.
- The district will also recognize Roswell Allen as the 2025-26 Edustaff Excellence Award winner and Nevada Substitute Teacher of the Year during the superintendent’s report.
Calendar
Upcoming district calendar items include early-release professional learning days Aug. 25, Sept. 1, Sept. 8 and Sept. 15; no school Sept. 7 for Labor Day; and a Community Connections event at 6 p.m. Sept. 16 in the Carson High School library.
The Carson City School District Board of Trustees will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, in the Robert Crowell Board Room at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.
Public comment is accepted Public comment is accepted in person or by email at publiccomment@carson.k12.nv.us until 12:30 p.m. the day of the meeting. Those who email comments must include their full name.
