The White Pine County School District is one step closer to building its first new K-8 public school in Ely in more than two decades after a state board approved its request for a $98 million grant at its April 7 meeting. 

The funding came via Assm. Erica Mosca's (D-Las Vegas) 2025 bill (AB224) that aimed to support small, rural school districts with serious facilities needs, but lacked the financial means to address them on their own. The bill requires the State Board of Finance to issue approximately $100 million in general obligation bonds to provide grants that finance school capital improvements.

"It's really exciting," said White Pine County School District Superintendent Adam Young. "It's a little bit hard to believe, honestly, because we've been working on this for so long. It's really been a great example of partnership and how things can actually get done for the betterment of students in our state."

The new school will replace David E. Norman Elementary School, built in 1909, and White Pine Middle School, built in 1913. Asbestos, mold and accessibility are just a few of the issues the schools face, Young said, and costs related to frequent asbestos abatement and roof replacement are a drain on the district's already limited capital funds. 

"Keeping the doors open on those schools comes at a significant cost in operations for the school district that would be better spent on student programming," he said. 

Now that the grant is approved, Young said the next step is for the state to sell bonds and provide the money to the district.

But the district of about 1,200 students isn't waiting for that to happen to begin initial work on the new school, which will be located next to White Pine High School.

Young said the district began working with an architect in August on conceptual designs for the new school and is getting feedback from community members. They've already contracted with a construction manager at risk that's ready to begin the work. 

Young is hopeful that moving the project forward will help avoid rising costs from potential delays — such as what Elko County School District went through last year when no contractors bid on the new Owyhee school. 

Last year, the district estimated that its new K-8 school would cost about $100 million to build. Young isn't sure if the price tag has gone up since, but he said it's possible that the project could be scaled down from its original vision to get in under budget. He added that all of the district's capital funds are being used to keep the doors open at its other campuses. 

If everything goes according to plan, the new school could be open as early as the 2028-29 school year. 

"I am an optimist, so I believe that that can happen, but these dominoes need to fall for it to happen," he said. 

As for the historic buildings? Young says its fate isn't certain, but the school board will be seeking the public's input on what should happen to it next.

---

News briefs

🔍To search or not to search for a new Washoe County superintendent — That was the question the Washoe County School Board wrestled with during their April 14 meeting. 

One of the options on the table was to appoint — sans interview — district deputy superintendent Tiffany McMaster as the interim and later permanent leader following Superintendent Joe Ernst's retirement. That would avoid a potentially costly and lengthy national search. 

But some trustees and community members thought the appointment wouldn't be transparent enough and instead called for an open interview process. 

Trustee Beth Smith said while she also wanted to avoid a national search, she thought the job should be opened to more candidates with a connection to the district. 

Hoping to find a compromise, the board voted 5-2 to go forward with a formal interview with McMaster before deciding whether to proceed with her as Ernst's replacement. Smith and Trustee Colleen Westlake voted against the motion. 

"I think there are times to do searches — internal, regional, national — I just don't think this is the time," said board President Adam Mayberry. "I think we can pick within our own garden. We don't skip a beat — I think that's what we need now."

The school board expects to conduct the interview at its May 12 meeting.

---

Reading assignments

Washoe schools reverses 27-year-old ban on swings

The board's decision clears the path for swings to be added to the designs of new schools or existing schools as their facilities are upgraded. 

Washoe school board names a candidate who could replace outgoing superintendent

The board's meeting materials state that the district's deputy superintendent, Tiffany McMaster, meets the new superintendent qualifications for school districts in counties of more than 100,000 residents established in a 2025 bill.

Fewer candidates running for Nevada school boards. Could more pay draw them in?

Trustees say the role isn't for the weak as they put in long hours for meetings and building relationships, some while also juggling a full-time job.

Extra credit

Las Vegas Review-Journal: CCSD braces for enrollment, staff decline in tentative $3.8B budget

The Clark County School District is projecting it will have 2,000 fewer students and 5,000 employees, including more than 1,000 less classroom teachers, by the end of the next school year. 

Nevada Appeal: Carson City School Board OKs superintendent to issue layoff notices

Those at risk of being laid off include school social workers. 

---

Featured social media post

Learn more about the new president of one of Nevada's most politically influential unions, which represents more than 18,000 licensed educators in the Clark County School District.