Search for new elementary principal continues

At the Feb. 12 Eureka County School Board meeting, Reagan Mello, student advisory rep, spoke to the Eureka County School District board about the high school Winterfest Dance and reported that the proceeds for the fundraiser went to the Liver Cancer Foundation.

The board selected the following officers:

Lynn Conley – Board President

Lynn Conley – Nevada Association of School Boards Representative

Hallee Dechambeau – Board Clerk

Dillon Pollock – Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association Representative

Doug Dickover – Legislative Representative

Melinda Filippini – Investment Committee Representative

Lynn Conley and Melinda Filippini – Negotiation Representatives

With the imminent retirement of Lisa Hutchison as Eureka and Crescent Valley Elementary principal, the school district is seeking applicants. The board considered designating the Crescent Valley principal and Eureka Elementary principal as critical- need positions.

Superintendent Else related, “We haven’t received a lot of applications yet for these positions” but “are still hopeful that we will get some of them and find the right fit. We are very passionate about getting the right long-term fit. Typically, by this point in time, we have a lot more candidates that have applied. It’s been on for several weeks,” and Else felt with “the unrest across the state with people’s budgets, a lot of people don’t want to lose seniority in their districts and aren’t putting applications out right now.” 

A critical labor shortage waiver allows recently retired employees to return to those positions where it is difficult to attract employees right away. Although Hutchison holds both the Eureka and CV positions conjointly, the positions are being advertised separately.

The board approved designating the positions as critical need, which must be approved and authorized by PERS. Designation as a critical-need position in Nevada education allows districts to hire retired teachers without affecting their PERS retirement benefits, 

High school principal John Glover said, “Short three weeks since we met last,” but “WinterFest happened, and it was a busy, eventful week.” Glover thanked “Mrs. Gonzalez and leadership: They did a great job putting that on.” He also thanked the cheer squad. “It was well-attended, and I think the kids had a great time.” Mock interviews for seniors were held. Feb. 11-12. Glover thanked Mindy Filippini and Doug Dickover for “helping us with that. Kids were nervous,” but “it’s good for them to get that experience before they head off into the real world in three short months.”

Wrestlers “are going to the state tournament this coming weekend in Winnemucca,” with three wrestlers qualified: Preston Auch finished first at the regional wrestling tournament held in Lovelock, Nevada. Lian Allred finished second, and Thomas Schweble finished third. This placement advanced them to the NIAA State Wrestling Tournament in Winnemucca, Feb. 13-14. The wrestlers were given send-off on Thursday at 2:30 p.m., with people cheering them on. 

The girls basketball team finished the regular season with a big win against Owyhee “last weekend. They finished in second place, one game behind Owyhee.” They play in regionals at 3 p.m. on Friday at Elko High School.

The boys basketball team “went undefeated,” and “they’ll play at 4:40” on Friday. “The winners of those games advance to the state; so, if they win one game, they’re in the state tournament. The girls’ final will be at noon, and the boys will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, if they both win.”

Glover turned to Junior High Sports. “I thought the girls and boys basketball teams had a great year, so kudos to those kids” and “parents for supporting that.”

Forty-two students are headed to FFA winter leadership in Mesquite, which “is three more than last year, as that program continues to be just fantastic for our students. So, I’m really proud that that big a group is headed down to Mesquite to represent our school. So, we wish them all the best.”

Spring sports, boys and girls track and softball, “starts in just over a week,” even as snow headed for Eureka.

Hutchison related that the Kagan conference was the weekend of Feb. 14, with three staff from CV, four from Eureka Elementary and two from the high school attending in Las Vegas. They’ll “gather on Feb. 27 for our Professional Development Day” at the Eureka Elementary school, and “we’re going to be working with Eureka High and Eureka Elementary” and collaborate “around our peer-coaching activities we did the past couple of months.” At Crescent Valley, Hutchison and Mrs. Wilker will “meet with them through Teams,” “talk about the conference and what they got from the conference” and “implement professional wrap-up.” Hutchison noted the junior high field trip is March 5-6, and March 12 is the end of the third quarter. “It’s flying.”

Superintendent Else went to Crescent Valley on Monday, Feb. 10, and was “very excited about our 10 employees going to Kagan” and about the PDA on Feb. 27.

He congratulated neighboring White Pine County School District Superintendent Dr. Adam Young, who was selected as the 2025-2026 Superintendent of the Year by the Nevada Association of School Superintendents (NASS), of which Else is the president.

On the NASS website, Else said, “Dr. Adam Young is more than just an exceptional superintendent — he’s a tireless advocate for students, a thoughtful leader, and a true friend to education. His passion for creating better systems for learners is matched only by his heart for the people he serves. This recognition as Superintendent of the Year is a reflection of the countless lives he’s touched and the future he continues to shape with purpose and care.”

Young is eligible to be considered for the AASA National 2026 Superintendent of the Year, who will be named during the Feb. 12-14 National Conference on Education.

On Feb. 17, Else will be presenting on behalf of NASS at the Nevada Joint Committee on Education. 

School board members Filippini and Conley and Else met with Dr. Steve Canavero, who is launching the Education Service Center, separate from the Department of Education, as state officials develop a new framework to evaluate the performance of school districts and charter schools as part of 2025 bill SB460. Canavero is meeting with superintendents, board members and staff “to see what the high priorities are.” Else said, “One of the big things” is the “changes in funding structure and now the lack of enrollment, causing a school district funding decrease.” Else is very excited that “they are tackling the whole reporting” burden on school districts. He hopes good “things will come out of that.”

The Eureka County School District Board approved:

• Two new District Office employees to be placed at Step 7 on the Confidential Employees Salary Schedule based on their qualifications, education, and prior relevant experience as both possess advanced credentials and extensive backgrounds that exceed the requirements for their respective positions, justifying placement above the entry step.
• A Budget Workshop to be held with the Board of Trustees, Principals, and Department Heads on March 27, 2026, starting at 10 a.m.; and the Budget Hearing to be held on May 18, 2026, at 5:30pm.
• The Consent Agenda.
• Minutes of the January 20, 2026, Board Meeting
• Ratifying Payroll Account Payable Warrants and Electronic Transfer/Purchase Cards: PR #14.2 checks 302753 to 302754 for $3,418.02, PR #15 checks 302755 to 302769 and checks 302748 to 302752 for $320,628.95, AP checks 107828 to 107859 for $97,309.27, AP checks 107860 to 107887 for $54,180.80, CC [Credit Cards] for $1,249.49, CCs for $3,709.15.
• Budget transfers: $10,000 from Building and Sites 430 (repair services) to Building and Sites 610 (supplies) for work being performed by staff; a transfer of $3,000 from EES Library 640 (books) to EES Library 652 (tech items of value) for purchase of a 3D Printer.