The Washoe County School District (WCSD) is dedicated to providing a safe teaching and learning environment for our students, families, and educators. Families and staff members have expressed a strong desire to return to classrooms this fall. Medical recommendations and scientific research confirm that in-person education, to the extent practical and following all safety and health protocols, provides educational, emotional, and social supports that are integral to students’ health, well-being, and development.

The Reopening Task Force worked closely with our staff members and community members to create plans for reopening our schools and resume learning with our 64,000 students. Employee association leadership played a key role on our Reopening Task Force and received every opportunity to express their members’ concerns during those meetings. The district responded with solutions to each concern raised by the Association and continues to work in conjunction with our administrators and employees in addressing concerns and finding solutions to those concerns.

While the WCSD has still yet to receive a copy of the Washoe Education Association (WEA) OSHA complaint, based on comments by WEA leadership in an opinion editorial in The Nevada Independent, the complaint is not supported by facts. The district’s reopening plan meets or exceeds all directives established by Gov. Sisolak, to include:

• Physical distancing and face covering requirements consistent with or exceeding Governor’s Directive 028

• The Board of Trustees deliberated for nearly 20 hours in two separate meetings regarding the re-opening plan, during which members of the community had the opportunity to provide input and express their opinions. Based on the information received and contemplated by the Board, in the best interests of students and our community, it adopted a plan consistent with medical advice, the Governor’s directives, science, family concerns, student health concerns, and staff concerns

• Our updated amount spent on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is approximately $790,000 for staff members including teachers, and we are working with various community partners to procure additional PPE for staff and teachers

• Adopting plans and training to ensure correct use of PPE, and

• Options available for families who would prefer that their students learn at home with support from teachers at school sites.

We further believe the WEA’s complaint is inappropriate and unfortunate, as district leadership has continually worked to establish a trusting relationship with all of our associations. The Washoe County School District will address the complaint with state authorities going forward.

WCSD is working hard in all capacities as we prepare to reopen our schools after being shut down since mid-March. As we continue to solve problems and help to relieve concerns of staff in order to return to school sites,  we will continue to work diligently to improve the availability of testing and contact tracing for our employees and in our community. In addition, we are continuing to purchase additional PPE in order to augment the supplies we have already purchased and are distributing to our school sites. 

As a responsible employer, our district will continue to message to the community that everyone plays a role in the mitigation of this virus, and that means taking responsibility for the mandated use of face coverings on any district property, social distancing, and hand washing. 

In addition, our students and families are facing challenges and we are working with our city and county partners to find solutions to childcare and daycare concerns. With the courage of our convictions—and the support of a majority of our families and employees—we will reopen our schools and do everything possible to protect the health and well-being of our school communities as we welcome our students back to learning for the 2020-2021 school year.

Dr. Kristen McNeill is superintendent of the Washoe County School District.