Beekeepers work at the Douglas County School District offices in Minden not long after they were closed due to various infestations in August, including bats.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
The declaration of a state of severe financial emergency is scheduled to be discussed by Douglas County School Board trustees on Wednesday.
The declaration would involve meeting specific statutory conditions and could lead to state-level conditions to stabilize the district’s finances.
If declared the district would need to notify the committee on Local Government Finance of the Department of Taxation and develop a corrective action plan.
Trustees meet 4 p.m. at the Airport Training Center, 1126 Airport Road Building G1, Minden
During the Dec. 18, 2025, school board meeting the district was at a $4 million shortfall for the current fiscal year and a structural deficit of $5.2 million for next year and the board discussed a plan that would potentially balance the budget, which according to the Jan. 7 agenda, they are attempting to implement.
One of the first steps would be for trustees to declare a fiscal emergency and begin negotiations with the associations representing district employees within 21 days.
Due to financial challenges, the board will consider a reduction in force for classified employees.
This would align with collective bargaining agreements and aims to maintain the district’s fiscal stability.
If approved, Superintendent Frankie Alvarado will be authorized to execute necessary staffing adjustments.
Another portion of the Jan. 7 meeting will discuss school consolidation scenarios.
Alvarado will present various models aimed at addressing enrollment trends and budget constraints.
The goal is to achieve fiscal solvency through 2027.
The board will review the scenarios to determine which ones warrant further development and community engagement.
The district must come up with a mitigation plan by February and identify sustainable long-term budget reductions and present it to the Department of Taxation.