New trustees join school board tonight

The Carson City School Board will welcome two new members at its first meeting of the year this evening.

Ron Swirczek will replace Norm Scoggin, who reached his term limits after serving 12 years on the board. Barbara Myers defeated incumbent Randy Carlson in the November election.

Scoggin, the outgoing president, said he likely would have run again if not for the term limits, but that the board would benefit from the incoming trustees.

"You miss anything you do for a long time," Scoggin said, "but at the same time it's probably time for some new ideas and some new blood."

Much of tonight's meeting will be dedicated to housekeeping items, such as the election of new officers and appointing trustees to serve on various committees and associations.

Trustees will also be selected to serve as liaisons to schools within their represented districts.

Superintendent Richard Stokes will make a presentation to the board on the progress made so far by the 2010 bond oversight committee.

The committee was formed last year to allow a community board to direct the bond issue, which passed in November's election.

"(Voters) entrusted us with a very important task," Stokes said when the bond was passed. "We want to make sure we address all issues that were discussed in the master plan committee."

The 10-year rollover bond is not for a certain amount of money. Instead, it asks voters to approve a fixed tax rate over a 10-year period.

It will be divided into three phases over the next 10 years, with the first addressing "high priority" needs. In this $25 million phase, every school in the district will receive improvements, ranging from heating and lighting upgrades, to increased handicap accesses and heightened security.

The second phase will be $10 million to begin in 2013 and be completed in 2014. It is expected to address needs at Pioneer High School and in career and technical arts at Carson High School.

The third phase of the bond will be designated to upgrade technology throughout the district.

The rollover bond allows for a "pay-as-you-go" component that the district would use to provide upgrades beginning in 2011 through 2020.

Officials estimate they will have $500,000 per year for the program.