New changes implemented as Carson City begins new school year

Another week in August means more students are going back to school. Today, it was students in Carson City, Lassen Unified, Churchill, Mineral and Storey counties turn to begin the 2019-2020 school year.

While the students enjoyed summer break, the Carson City School District (CCSD) was busy with school construction. As they completed expansion projects at Fremont Elementary School, Mark Twain Elementary School and Pioneer High School.

At Freemont and Mark Twain Elementary Schools, the district spent a total of $9.5 Million expanding each campus by 10,000 Sq. Ft. and remove portable classrooms and offices and replace them with permanent structures.

At Pioneer High School, which is the alternative high school, the district spent $4.5 Million replacing portable buildings with permanent structures. The nearly 200 students there will now have a gym to play in, a place to eat and brand new classrooms.

Another thing that will be new this school year, teachers will have new materials. Superintendent Richard Stokes says the district always wanted to change the materials, but it came down to a matter of resources.

“The State of Nevada has had a seven year cycle for renewing textbooks and materials. Because of the great recession, we were unable to purchase those materials as we had initially had hopes. But those times have changed a little bit and we are back on track,” said Stokes.

He says instead of buying new materials during the Great Recession, they used the money to hold onto people and programs.