WHY WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD RACES MATTER As the former President of the Washoe County School Board and a passionate believer in the critical importance of public education to our citizens and our nation, | urge you to take the time to vote in the “down-ballot’ School Board races, and to vote for those individuals who are working to strengthen our school district, not to disrupt and demean it. Those individuals who deserve your vote are Beth Smith, Adam Mayberry, Joe Rodriguez and Ellen Minetto. There is no question that all schools throughout the US (including private and charter schools) have much to improve. Contrary to information you may have been told, however, Nevada schools, and the Washoe County School District in particular, are NOT last in the nation. Nevada is currently ranked in various publications from 35'* to 42" in the US; the Washoe County School District, however, is consistently ranked in the top 20% by Niche, a national research organization, and in the top 18% in the US in a Stanford University study, based on consistent academic growth of our students, This District has “good bones”: innovative thinkers using evidence-based curriculum and a track record of consistent growth in performance that should be built upon, not destroyed and replaced, If the WCSD were a state, we would have the 8" highest completion rate in Advanced Placement tests in the US. Almost half (49%) of our WCSD students earned special Advanced, Honors, or College and Career Ready diplomas in 2021, which require additional rigorous coursework. Further, ten of our 2021 high school graduates were named among the top 1% of all high school seniors nationwide in the National Merit ‘Scholarship semi-finals. These are just some examples of the ways your Washoe County School District is preparing our children to succeed in this challenging 21% century, globally competitive environment. Our children today need more than the “traditional” education that you and | and our parents received—they need to know how to solve the complex problems ‘of modem society. To that end, the esteemed RAND Corporation featured the Washoe County Schoo! District in a 2018 article summarizing the leading-edge work the District is doing to prepare students with skills in self-management, responsible decision- making, teamwork, social awareness and other skills that employers say are most desperately needed. Coincidentally, this preparation is also strongly correlated with higher graduation rates nationwide, and contributed to Washoe County’s improvement from a 70% graduation rate in 2013 to an 86% graduation rate in 2019, the last full year before Covid And if the substantial academic progress in the WCSD were not enough to cause you to want to vote for the most qualified individuals for the School Board, consider some of the other achievements of the District, such as an increased bond rating during a global pandemic; consistently balanced budgets for the first time in 14 years; highest ratings in annual financial audits; six new schools completed with two more opening this August on time and on budget since voters passed the 2016 ballot initiative; and more than$800 million invested in construction and rehabilitation of old and new schools to address overcrowding and aging infrastructure. As the largest employer in Washoe County with 8,000 employees serving 62,000 students at 103 schools, the District has. an annual economic impact of more than $1 billion | hope you will join me in voting for the most qualified, most competent and most experienced individuals seeking your vote for School Board: Beth Smith, Adam Mayberry, Joe Rodriguez and Elien Minetto. Your vote matters deeply for the future of our children and our community.From: Campbell, Victoria ‘Sent: Monday, September 19, 2022 4:46 PM ‘Subject: Media wrap for Monday, September 19, Good afternoon, Trustees (bce’d to avoid OML issues): 1, _https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/education/cesd-superintendent-slams-proposed-efforts-to- break-up-school-district-2641548/ 2. https://thisisreno.com/2022/09/local-schools-receive-support-recognition/ 3. https://www.kolotv.com/2022/09/19/nevada-dems-call-audit-clark-county-school-district 4. We need WCSD trustees who are education advocates, not obstructionists (rgi.com 5. Ligutenant Governor Cano Burkhead to tour Wooster High with WCSD Superintendent Dr. Enfield | News | 2news.com 6. https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/democratic-lawmakers-propose-auditing-the-clark-county- school-district, 7. https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/education/ccsd-sees-test-score-gains-after-returning-to-in- person-classes-2643128/ 8. We issued and posted a news release for Parent Teacher Home Visit Week: https://www_washoeschools.net/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleinstancelD=2000&ViewID=7b 97f7ed-BeSe-4120-848f-a8b4987d588{&RenderLoc=0&FlexDatalD=64146&PageID=1250 © https://www.2news.com/news/wcsd-parent-teacher-home-visits-program-marks-25th- anniversary/article_0017ff3c-3862-11ed-a7bd-3b209b6e572b.htm! Thank you, Vickie Victoria Campbell, M.A. ~ Public Information Officer WCSD — Communications Department 425 E. 9th Street Reno, NV 89512 campbell @washoeschools.net www,.washoeschools,net ‘Twitter-—hitp://bit.ly/aZRBho Facebook- http:/bit.ly/ddmoPi. Office: 775-333-3789 Cell: 775-772-2907 DAILY REMINDER wy ‘+ Wear Face Coverings At All Times + Maintain Social Distancing + Wash Your Hands & Use Hand Sanitizer mahoetosnty + Help Keep Our Facilities Clean + Perform a Self-Screening every day before school Schoo! District‘7922, 1025 aM ‘We need WCSO trustees who are education advocates, not obstructions reno gazette journal VOICES | Opinion This piece expresses the views of is author(s), separate from those ofthis publication, We need WCSD trustees who are education advocates, not obstructionists Sarah Mahler Publshed 1200 pm. PT Sept. 16,2022 | Updated 3:07 pam. PY Sept 16,2022 This opinion column was submitted by Sarah Mahler, chair of the Democratic Party of Washoe County and a Spanish Springs resident. Aslate of extremist out-of-touch candidates for Washoe County School Board threatens to bring obstructive chaos, radical right-wing values and a disruptive agenda to school board meetings, putting the well-being of our students in jeopardy. Incumbent Trustees Ellen Minetto (District B), Joe Rodriguez (District C) and Adam Mayberry (District F at large) deserve our support. They have displayed care, responsibility and leadership in their oversight of the district. They understand that their mission is to support education professionals and the students they serve. Trustee Jeffrey Church is undermining progress, going on the record that he wants to risk making an unprecedented teacher shortage worse by not providing the funding to retain and attract more education professionals and support staff. Church opposed the hiring of Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield, a nationally recognized education leader, whose credentials include degrees from UC Berkeley, Stanford and Harvard. She is a caring and experienced educator who has served in leadership roles as a chief academic officer and interim superintendent in Seattle. Trustee Church voted against hiring Enfield. If these extreme challenger School Board trustee candidates, or “his people” (as he calls them), are able to win and take over the school board, Enfield’s visionary leadership will end in partisan chaos. Even if just one of these challengers wins, Trustee Church will have an ally to get his counterproductive motions on the agenda. Meetings will be more traumatic and time-consuming than ever. Church is the only trustee on the current board to vote against the Five-Year Capital Improvement Program, another example of his reckless planning management that is based tps. con/starlpinonvoices/2022)9116\vote- protect washoo-students-maga-extreists/10399643002) 12‘919722, 10:25 AM We need WSO trustees who are education advocate, not cbstuconists on ideology rather than sound practice. Like Church, “his people” are more concerned with opposing mask mandates than they are with our students’ well-being. Look at the progress the current school board has made, even during the challenges of a pandemic. Sixty-six percent of Washoe graduates completed at least one advanced placement, international baccalaureate, career or dual college credit course. The current high school graduation rate is the highest in district history. Niche, a national ranking company, places Washoe in the top 19 percent of school districts across the country. Despite labor shortages and unprecedented challenges, the board remains accountable, even receiving accolades for its accounting and auditing practices. As a result, the district is thriving. Why would we want to change this direction? The future of our students is on the ballot in November. I urge your support for Minetto, Rodriguez and Mayberry because we need Trustees who are education advocates, not obstructionists who seek headlines and discord. Our district’s drama is a clear reflection of national trends. Responsible citizens must reject an extremist agenda that undermines the very real progress that Washoe County Schools have made. Please join Trustee Beth Smith, who will host an event in support of our incumbents on. Thursday, Sept. 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 at The Brewer's Cabinet, 475 S. Arlington in Reno. Sarah Mahler is the chair of the Democratic Party of Washoe County and is a Spanish Springs resident. Have your say: How to submit an opinion column or letter to the editor tps: wma. comistoy/pinion!eices/202210816ote-potect-washoe-students-maga-extreists! 103996490021westigations@piconpress.com From: investigations@piconpress.com Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2022 6:23 AM To: Mike Kazmierski' Subject: RE: Request for comment Sir, no one works for free From: Mike Kazmierski Sont: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 12:36 AM To: investigations @piconpress.com Subject: RE: Request for comment Dale As for full transparency, is anyone paying you to do this research, story? ‘Thanks Mike Sent from my Galaxy Original message From: investigations @piconpress.com Date: 9/19/22 3:22 AM (GMT+01:00) To: Mike Kazmierski Subject: RE: Request for comment sir- Did the general counsel advise you not to respond further? Thanks Dale From: Mike Kazmierski Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2022 10:16 PM To: investigations@piconpress.com E: Request for commentEDAWN is a 501c6 non-profit and while we can support or endorse candidates or issues (like a Chamber) we only support or oppose issues generally related to economic development. We receive some government funding for business attraction and retention, from state and local governments. About 20%. However, our board determines the issues we support and we do not publicly endorse or oppose any candidate, EDAWN employees are able to personally support any candidate of their choosing. Thanks Mike CEO EDAWN Sent from my Galaxy Original message From: investigations@piconpress.com Date: 9/18/22 6:52 AM (GMT+01:00) To: Mike Kazmierski Subject: Request for comment sir. Is Edawn funded by local government? And does the organization endorse political candidates? Thanks Daleinvestigations@piconpress.com From: investigations@piconpress.com Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2022 824 AM To: ‘Charlene Bybee’ Subject: RE: Response Ma'am, | stand by the story | wrote. Picon FB is a different division, | do not post on their page. | am doing 2 follow-up to reflect, your comments, Beadles and Jeff Church. We also have comment from EDAWN. Thank you Dale From: Charlene Bybee Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 11:06 AM To: investigations@piconpress.com Subject: Re: Response Dale, I'm disappointed to see your F8 post this morning after | clarified my position. I never stated | was “dismayed “ at getting ‘an opponent. Infact | always expect to have opponents in my race, if you knew me you would realize | don’t ever want to be arrogant and think that no one will run against me and | always work hard campaigning and on the Council You insinuated that | called the school board knuckleheads, which | never said. | turned down Katie Simon Holland’s request, If you want to stop by my fundraiser tonight, please feel free. I'l have food and drinks and I'd be happy to talk to yor person. I've included my personal cell phone if you want to give me a call Sincerely, Charlene Bybee Sparks Councilwoman / Mayor Pro Tempore 775-741-8565 On Sep 18, 2022, at 8:53 PM, Charlene Bybee wrote: Dale, Thanks so much, Please feel free to reach out if you need anything else. Charlene Bybee On Sep 18, 2022, at 7:19 PM, investigations@piconpress.com wrote:Thank you, | have reached out to Mr. Beadles as well. | will make an update to reflect your statement. Original Message From: Charlene Bybee Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2022 3:04 PM To: investigations@piconpress.com Subject: Response Good afternoon Dale, | apologize for not responding to your email last night, but 'm not usually checking ‘emails at 10:30pm. To answer your questions, |am not an EDAWN Board member, have not been since November 2020. EDAWN is a private/public partnership 501c3 which works to improve the economy through bringing new businesses and headquarters to northern Nevada as ‘well as supporting existing and emerging businesses. Itis not a government agency. The elected officals serving on the Board are considered Ex-Officio and do not vote. Mr. Kazmerski can share their policy on political endorsements. You would need to ask Ms. Simon Holland why she was asking me to email Board members. | was responding to an email from someone I know and should have responded with my private email due to her politcal request. | turned her down and made no reference to the school board candidates. My response was not conducting politics. | expressed my personal opinion. Whenever someone new actively participates in our election process, it’s natural for there to be questions. That's why | reached out to Mr. Beadles earlier this summer to introduce myself and talk about our shared goals for the Sparks community and he hasn't been available to speak with me. | look forward to a conversation when he returns my call. | hope this answers your questions. I'd be happy to talk to you if you want to give mea call ‘Thanks for the opportunity to provide the rest of the story! Charlene Bybee Sparks Councilwoman / Mayor Pro Tempore 775-741-8566