New superintendent hired for Douglas County School District

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County School District now has a new superintendent, something many parents and staff are looking forward to as a way of getting things back on track for the district. Interim Superintendent Jeannie Dwyer has been filling in since the departure of Keith Lewis on November 1, 2023.

A four-year contract was initially proposed for Alvarado "Frankie" Angelo, but some sought to add a one or two-year probationary period first, with a three-year contract afterward, as a way to both protect the district and give Angelo a way to depart should it not work out.

As with every Douglas County School Board meeting since November 2022, there was debate and votes along the normal sides - David Burns, Katherine Dickerson, Doug Englekirk, and Susan Jansen versus Linda Gilkerson, Carey Kangas, and Yvonee Wagstaff.

The pay for Alvarado is $175,000 per year, the upper end of the position pay range. If he is terminated without cause by the Board, they would owe Alvarado all of the aggregate salary, allowances, and compensation he would have earned under the employment contract. This was why some board members wanted a probationary period or a shorter contract.

Alvarado can receive a three-percent increase after one year, four percent after the second year, and five percent after the third year.

Wagstaff said it would have been the fiscally conservative thing to do to offer a probationary period. Kangas agreed that they had a responsibility to protect the district.

"They are fighting against us so hard," said Susan of the three that voted against the four-year contract. Jansen was not present again at the meeting, and she participated by Zoom.

By a vote of 4-3, the first motion failed as it had a probationary period added, then by a vote of 4-3, the second motion passed with a four-year contract for Angelo.

Also during the meeting, Joey Gilbert's monthly invoice of just over $25,000 was approved with no discussion. DCSD is looking at reduced income from the State of Nevada for $2.3M due to decreasing enrollment.

After months of discussion, the board approved a student representative by a vote of 5-2, with Dickerson and Jansen voting against it. This position is required in California and the Lake Tahoe Unified School has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with its student representatives who are appointed for one school year. During meetings, their student updates the board on what is happening on campus but have no vote. For Douglas County, a student from both Douglas and Whittell high schools will stay on for one four-month semester, or longer if there is no interest from other juniors or seniors.

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