The Lincoln County School District Board met on May 14. The full meeting lasted under an hour, covering a variety of updates on the closing of the school year.

The evening opened with a spirited briefing from a few Panaca Elementary sixth graders eager to share highlights from their recent class trip to San Diego. Held the last week of March, the annual sixth-grade trip gave many students their first chance to see the beaches of California. The visiting students detailed how they participated in a meaningful service project and exploration of the San Diego area.

At Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, they cleaned headstones and located the graves of Medal of Honor recipients they had previously researched. The educational experience continued with a tour of the USS Midway, offering a glimpse into life aboard a naval ship, followed by a day exploring the San Diego Zoo and a visit to Old Town San Diego. 

“It was very fun and we learned a lot. We got to learn about the animals and old San Diego,” one student shared with enthusiasm.

Superintendent Matt Cameron took a moment during the meeting to recognize the retirement of John Settles, longtime maintenance engineer, who served the district for 26 years.

“We thank him for his service to our community and his dedication. Unfortunately, he won’t be returning due to reasons in his personal life,” said Cameron.

The board officially hired Devin Chavez as the new bus driver for the Caliente route.

In academic updates, the district is actively working on expanding course offerings for high school students who are pursuing associate degrees and Career and Technical Education pathways. A partnership with Great Basin College is being approved to help support those efforts.

Cameron also noted a successful visit by the State Board of Education, which recently toured local schools. In infrastructure updates, new safety lights have been installed on Edwards Street near Meadow Valley Middle School.

It was announced that recently added board member Ravyn Cowley is relocating out of town. The board is now seeking applicants to fill the vacant seat until an election can be held. Interested community members are encouraged to apply. Interviews will be conducted during upcoming public meetings.

Additional public comment came from Shaun McCabe, a junior at Lincoln County High School and member of the Show Choir. McCabe expressed gratitude on behalf of the music department for the board’s support, which allowed the band and choir to travel to the Music in the Parks festival at the end of April. The students brought home four trophies between both programs.