Administrators and Professional Development Center teachers among the first items the 904 takers of the Douglas County School District survey would recommend cutting.
Part of a plan to stabilize the district’s financial situation, Douglas County School administrators across the district could face layoffs by the 2026-2027 school year.
Douglas County School Board approved potential layoff notices during the Dec. 18 board meeting, which will go out to all administrative positions by Jan. 1, 2026.
Superintendent Frankie Alvarado said the notices do not mean any layoffs will happen but are required by law.
“This protects the district in the event we have to reduce positions giving them the ability to apply for vacant positions in the district,” said Alvarado.
The notices of potential layoff are due to financial restraints. Pursuant to NRS 288.151, a school district may implement a reduction in force affecting administrators when necessary due to budgetary conditions such as decreased enrollment.
The plan was proposed by Hesssolutions and Jensen Professional services, which the board approved a consulting contract with during the Dec. 18 meeting to help ensure the district is in compliance for the upcoming mitigation plan presentation to the Department of Taxation in February 2026.
According to the plan, there are two phases that would address the financial restraints the district is facing.
Phase 1 focuses on immediate fiscal emergency negations, hiring freezes, and expense reductions. The goal is to preserve cash flow and reduce obligations for the 2025-2026 school year.
Phase 2 aims at structural realignment to resolve the long-term deficit. This involves potential reduction force, school consolidations, and asset liquidation.
The district plans to gather community feedback through surveys and town halls to ensure transparency and community involvement in the decision-making process.
Despite rumors of school closures, consolidations, class reductions, selling or obtaining property, and layoffs, Alvarado said these are not new conversations for the board, many of which were due to low enrollment.
In 2006, there was discussion whether to close one of the lake schools due to declining enrollment. The choices were Zephyr Cove Elementary School and Kingsbury Middle School. In 2008, the middle school was closed and Whittell High School obtained grades seventh and eighth.
Declining enrollment in 2009 saw the elimination of 14 teachers, school custodians, computer technicians, library staffing, alternative education and English as a second language positions, and more.
Alvarado said like conversations in the past, the board is facing some difficult decisions.
“We are in the exploratory phase and educating the board to make informed decisions,” said Alvarado. “I know people are anxious, but no decisions have been made and we are trying to make reductions furthest away from the classroom.”