School board hears music program highlights, student council reports and addresses budget at March 11 meeting

The Eureka County School Board held its regular meeting on March 11. The board listened as high school music teacher Ralph Cuda led the Eureka High School Band in performing Elmer Bernstein’s “Magnificent Seven.” Cuda said that the “year has gone really well,” with “the pep band the largest it’s ever been,” playing at all the football games, the Halloween Concert and a Veterans Day Concert at the elementary school. Students did Christmas caroling around town for some of the seniors and at the senior center and coffee shop. Russell Rowley “got to play a lot of Christmas carols on his new soprano sax,” which Cuda thanked the school district for purchasing. Rowley made first chair tenor sax in the regional honor band. Cuda said the rock band played at the Opera House for the Valentine’s/AntiValentine’s Day concert that saw 70 people attend. 

The junior high and high school bands will be going to the Instrumental Band Festival in Elko on Monday, March 24. In 2024 they got all superiors, and Cuda said he “hopes we repeat that after a week off.” The band’s spring concert will be in April, and they will be playing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. Cuda said it is the first time they’ve done a classical concerto with the high school band.

The high school and junior high bands will join the VFW on Memorial Day at the Opera House, and the rock band’s final concert will be for the Alumnae Association the same week as the Alumnae Dinner because, Cuda said, “A lot of them were rock band students that started the rock band we have now.” They will open with the current rock band and close with the original rock band.

Cuda thanked the board for supporting the music program. “I know it’s very expensive to run a program here,” he said, and he noted with the quality of the music the students are playing and how well they are competing, “I think you’re getting your money’s worth with the program.”

As Cuda prepares to retire, Vice President Hallee Dechambeau thanked him for all the years he’s given Eureka County. 

Kiley Gutierez reported student council elections finished and the video speeches were a success, with students watching and voting. The new student council officers include Gutierez as Council President; Jenna Rosener, Vice President; Matthew Knapp, Secretary; Historian, Julia Minoletti; Social Media Manager, Mya Tognotti; and School Board Representative/Treasurer Megan Mello. 

Gutierez reported the Black Light Dance held at the old elementary school gym March 6 made $675, which “is a huge step forward from where we were at in the beginning.” 

The newly elected student council members will be attending the Nevada Association of Student Councils conference April 3-5 in Las Vegas, which will help them get more ideas for the school and community.

In considering accepting the lowest bid for the Eureka High School football field replacement at a cost not to exceed $1,850,998.50, Superintendent Tate Else related the bid received was not within the parameters. There is still time to adjust the budget, so the board voted to table the item.

In considering the bid for the high school chemical exhaust system at a cost not to exceed $150,000, Else related, “I have some really good news. We have had a bid come in below.” US Mechanical was awarded the bid at $98,280.

In considering the school board’s annual evaluation of him, Superintendent Tate said he appreciated “all the feedback, and the comments and the suggestions.” He praised the outstanding school district and staff. 

Dechambeau noted the “quality of a school starts at the top” and said Eureka County is “very fortunate to have a strong leader whose goal is to educate the kids.” 

Member Dick Dickover said, “I appreciate the patience you have.”

The school board approved the annual superintendent’s evaluation, with each board member’s individual performance evaluations tabulated.

High School Principal John Glover related the “high school’s been a busy place.” The FFA had their annual leadership training program in Carson City February 26-27, and 60 youth will be attending the FFA convention in Reno March 23-26. That same Monday, the band will head to Elko. Glover quipped, “We might have 50 kids in the high school that day if nobody’s sick.” 

The juniors took the ACTs March 5.

Forty-five youth are taking a ski trip to Utah on Thursday, March 13. 

Principal Glover said spring sports are off to a great start, with the track team having traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the Bishop Gormon Track Meet. They are headed to Yerrington this weekend. 

There is no baseball this year due to a lack of interest.

Girls softball has 14 girls, and they won their first scrimmage March 1 at West Wendover. 

Junior high track practices started March 10, with the junior high and high school’s first meet scheduled for April 12 at home.

Elementary Schools Principal Lisa Hutchison reported, “We are in the middle of reading week,” with activities, dress-up days and a bookmark contest. Hutchison gets to go into each class and share stories with the kids. She joked that the kids say, “Wow, you read. I thought you were just the lunch duty lady.” 

The end of the quarter is coming up, and there will be an awards assembly March 27 at 1:30 p.m.

Finance Director Rhonda Wilkins said budget season is in full swing. There will be a budget workshop March 24 at 4 p.m. 

Else thanked Sherry Wilker and other teachers who provided demonstrations and instructions on Professional Development Day.

Else said, “The legislative session is in full swing,” and he is in very close communication with lobbyist Caleb Cage. Tate said the Governor’s Education Bill hasn’t been consolidated yet, and the date for the final budget approval has not been set. The session ends the first week of June. He foresees a special session and said school districts across the state are carefully analyzing their budgets.

Tate related that Nevada Department of Education Superintendent of Public Education Jhone Ebert is in the running for Clark County School Board Superintendent, which could foretell big changes in the state. 

Else said, “We have some great applicants for our positions for next year,” and he hopes to see those finalized after spring break. 

Else said it’s also District Performance Plan time, and board member Melinda Filippini will once again participate in the planning process. Else expects there will be changes in state accountability laws, leading to changes in the school district’s metrics. “I think we really need to finalize our goals better,” he commented, with math and reading goals needing to be revised.

He concluded, “I think with this legislative session and potential changes at the state, I think it’s going to be a busy end of the school year.”