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Washoe County Schools, Nevada

Washoe County School District

Design Charrette

Case Study Project

Introduction

School leaders are smart to use the design of school spaces as a tool of investigation, seeking to understand how built learning environments might advance school improvement efforts. In October 2004, the Washoe County School District embarked on such an endeavor. Beginning with a day-long Board of Education strategic planning workshop, representatives from America’s Schoolhouse Council (ASC), facilitated discussion of the districts needs and aspirations, laying the foundation for all subsequent capital improvement planning.

Reno, Nevada’s nickname, “The Biggest Little City in the World,” renders an apt description for the 63rd largest school district in the country. Covering 6,905 square miles, the Washoe County School District operates 91 schools spread over a county larger than the state of Delaware. Washoe County faces all the challenges of a growing urban school district in combination with attributes characteristic of small town and rural America. Total enrollment is more than 62,000, and yet, in some areas, the closest school sites are more than 80 miles apart.

Background

Washoe County School district serves an increasing diverse student population. Specifically, 59 % of students are white with the remaining 41% from other racial/ethic groups, 32 % of K-6 students receive free and reduced price lunch, and 13% are English language learners district-wide. School officials acknowledge that significant geographic distances, along with the subsequent social and cultural differences, challenge their efforts to engender a sense of community across the district. In addition, recently burgeoning student enrollments, on the one hand, and diminished resources on the other, further complicate the school district’s efforts to keep pace with their changing context. In fact, this year a shifting trend finds enrollment at 1,374 students below projection. Consequently, the district anticipates a shortfall of approximately $6,053,000 based upon the State's guaranteed basic support of $4,405 per Washoe County pupil. Even with this downward trend, the school district has experienced a 63% increase in student population over a fourteen year period, with per pupil expenditure at $5, 599.

Acknowledging these challenges, the Washoe County School District (WCSD) began the process of documenting the existing conditions, defining their own particular context in precise detail, and collecting all relevant data. Over a ten months period, 100 participants worked together within the context of 20 separate meetings to draft the Vision 2015, long-range facility plan. This plan proceeds from eleven core value statements. Three of these statements underscore the importance of community engagement in school district planning.

Value Statement 7: Community and parental involvement at all levels is encouraged and desired.

Value Statement 10: The district is a leader in the community and a builder of relationships.

Value Statement 11: The community is an active participant in the educational process.

In order to ensure that school district actions realize these values, it will be important to chronicle and assess ongoing efforts to bring community representatives to the table. The September 21 and 22, 2005 school district-sponsored design charrette represents such an effort. What is a charrette? Click here to find out.

Purpose

This study seeks to articulate the benefits and limitations of the design charrette for understanding and stimulating participation on the part of teachers, administrators, parents, and community representatives, describing the vehicles for communication and engagement. The nature of the different forums for communicating input, the content of this input, and the roles participants are assigned and assume, all represent foci for study. Further, in capturing the attitudes and perceptions of various participant groups, school administrators, design professionals, university preparation programs, and continuing professional development programs, may learn ways to better support other school districts in this work.

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