Facility Modernization Plan: Repurposing of Schools

Investing in Student Success 

About the Repurposing Program 

Washoe County School District (WCSD) is repurposing schools as part of a district-wide effort to align facilities with today’s learning needs. Guided by the Facility Modernization Plan (FMP), this work utilizes data, community feedback, and long-term planning.

Benefits include:

Strengthening academic outcomes
Improving staff-to-student ratios
Updated safety features
Improved teacher and staff resources
Optimizing fiscal efficiencies

To learn more about our facilities repurposing process and how this may impact you or your neighborhood, please review the information below and get involved in the process.

History at a Glance

WCSD has faced challenges with aging buildings, shifting enrollment, and rising maintenance costs. In 2016, Washoe County voters approved WC-1, creating long-term funding to repair and rebuild schools. Building on that progress, the district adopted the FMP in 2023 — a 15-year roadmap developed with extensive community input to ensure all students learn in safe, modern, and efficient schools. 

Why We're Repurposing

Aging School Buildings 
Many WCSD schools were built between 1950 and 1970 and require major improvements to meet today’s safety, technology, and instructional standards. 

Shifting Enrollment Patterns 
Population changes, housing affordability, and local demographic trends have created conditions where a number of campuses are significantly under-enrolled. 

Strategic Use of Limited Resources 
Maintaining aging, under-utilized buildings diverts resources away from educational programming, staffing, and facility improvements throughout the district. 

Optimized Learning Environments 
Repurposing helps reduce facility gaps and provides consistent access to safe, modern, and consistently supported learning environments for all WCSD students. 

What Repurposing Means

A Thoughtful, Multi-Step Process 
Repurposing does not mean immediate closure. WCSD uses a structured, multi-year planning process to determine the best future use of select campuses. Steps include: 

Detailed facility and financial analysis 
Staff and community engagement 
Zoning Advisory Committee enrollment boundary setting 
Exploration of potential new uses 
Board approval
Transition plans for students and staff

This effort supports a long-term vision of modernizing aging buildings, repurposing facilities with extensive needs, and reinvesting in improved campuses across the district. 

What Happens to Students? 

Student-Centered Transitions 
If a school is recommended for a change of use, WCSD will work directly with families to ensure a smooth transition to nearby schools with strong academic programs and improved facilities.

Families will receive: 

Clear timelines 
Updated zoning information 
Transportation supports 
Ongoing communication from the school and district

No student will be left without a safe, reliable school placement. 

Reuse & Disposition Framework for Closed Schools

The Washoe County School District has established a clear, transparent, and repeatable process to guide evaluation and future recommendations. The Reuse & Disposition Framework for Closed Schools, approved by the Board of Trustees on April 28, 2026, outlines how each site will be evaluated consistently, including consideration of educational needs, community priorities, financial stewardship, and potential partnerships or future uses. No decisions regarding a site’s future are predetermined.

A key component of the framework is meaningful community engagement. Through surveys, listening sessions, public updates, and other outreach opportunities, community perspectives will be gathered, documented, and thoughtfully considered as part of the overall evaluation process. Community input will help inform recommendations alongside educational, operational, financial, and legal considerations.

The framework is designed to ensure a thoughtful and transparent process for evaluating future options for closed school sites. Any final recommendation regarding reuse, partnership, lease, or sale will ultimately be presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration and possible action in a public meeting.

Please download the April 28, 2026 "Board Presentation Overview of Repurposing Framework" document for more detailed information.

Please download the "Reuse & Disposition Framework for Closed Schools" document for more detailed information.

Marco de reutilización y disposición de las escuelas cerradas

Latest Information on District Property (Closed Schools) Being Considered for Possible Reuse or Sale

The Board of Trustees approved the recommendation to proceed with the external reuse evaluation process for Old Stead Elementary School in accordance with Board Policy 7086, the Reuse & Disposition Framework for Closed Schools, and applicable Nevada Revised Statutes.

Click here for more information on the Old Stead Elementary School reuse evaluation process.

Please check back once the WCSD Board of Trustees takes action to proceed with the evaluation of possible internal use, external sale, or reuse options for a closed school site as information will be provided here.

Current Facilities in Repurposing Review include: 

Kate Smith Elementary School

Old Stead Elementary School

Roger Corbett Elementary School

Opened in 1959 and has a mid-century exterior-corridor design on a small five-acre site. The school now faces significant operational, safety and infrastructure limitations, and declining enrollment with no surrounding growth potential. Identified in the FMP for repurposing beginning in 2026–27, following continued community engagement and Board-directed transition processes, with anticipated implementation in 2027–28.

Veterans Memorial Elementary School

Opened in 1949 with a unique multi-building mid-century design on a constrained 3.4-acre site. The school faces significant operational, safety, and infrastructure challenges, persistent under-enrollment with no surrounding growth potential. Identified in the FMP for repurposing beginning in 2026–27, following continued community engagement and Board-directed transition processes.

Smithridge STEM Academy

Dodson Elementary School

Any change in use requires a formal process, Board approval, and a comprehensive transition plan for families. 

Go to Old Stead Elementary School reuse evaluation process.

Community Engagement

We want to hear from you.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this project. Please contact us and let us know what you like about the project and what concerns you may have.

General Comments

Timeline

Timely messages and invitations will be sent to each school site in present repurposing consideration. See the Current Facilities in Repurposing Review section.

Stay Informed

Required

Facilities Repurposing FMP EN Infographic

By the 2027-28 school year, four school communities will come together to strengthen the success of students as part of the Facility Modernization Plan.

A Community Commitment Since 2016 – Washoe County voters approved WC-1, a dedicated 0.54% sales tax that funds new school construction, renovations, and upgrades for students across the district.
Facility Modernization Plan – Adopted in 2023, the FMP is a 15-year, district-wide effort to reimagine and transform consistent environments. This plan was built with extensive community input and analysis of all 100+ district schools, many more than 50 years old, and is focused on efficiency and optimal educational opportunity.
Veterans Memorial & Corbett Elementary – After the 2027-2028 school year, both schools will be closed and begin repurposing into spaces that continue serving the community.
Booth Elementary – By 2027–2028, Booth will be modernized with upgraded classrooms, technology, and collaborative spaces to better support teaching and learning.
Echo Loder Elementary – By 2027–2028, Echo Loder will be reconstructed as a brand-new, state-of-the-art campus designed for 600–750 students, with flexible learning environments that foster creativity and connection.
Supporting Our Staff – WCSD is committed to caring for all employees through these transitions. Educators and staff will continue to have opportunity within the district, ensuring continuity and stability for students and families.
Honoring Our Legacy, Building Our Future – Together, we’re honoring our past, strengthening our schools, and building brighter futures for every child in Washoe County.

Please note that all dates are subject to change.

Download Infographic English | Espanol

How WCSD Evaluates Potential New Uses 

WCSD considers a range of possibilities for repurposed facilities, focusing on community benefit, student support, and long-term sustainability. Potential uses will be guided by the WCSD Board of Trustees compliance framework: 

District Academic Programs: Facility value for other academic programs operated by District in direct service to students. Examples: Alternative education, early childhood programs, adult education, specialized services. Evaluation Criteria: Program needs assessment, facility suitability, operational costs, community access.
District Non-Academic Services: Facility value for non-academic central services programs or departments. Examples: Administrative offices, professional development centers, technology services, transportation. Evaluation Criteria: Operational efficiency, cost reduction potential, service delivery enhancement.
Youth Services Through Qualified Partners: Serving youth through Governmental Entity or qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. Examples: After-school programs, youth development, recreational programming, and mentoring. Evaluation Criteria: Partner qualification, community needs alignment, sustainability.
Adult Services Through Qualified Partners: Serving adults (including WCSD staff) through Governmental Entity or qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. Examples: Workforce development, adult education, health services, senior programming. Evaluation Criteria: Community impact, partner capacity, financial viability
Open Market Sale: Public process sale only after exhausting higher priorities. Requirements: Market analysis, community impact assessment, public benefit documentation"

Supporting Staff Through Change

WCSD understands that school changes can bring uncertainty for staff members. The district is committed to: 

Prioritized staff placement services
Keeping staff groups together when possible 
Including staff voice in transition planning 
Providing professional development and supports

School changes are not a reflection of staff or student performance; they are facility and operational decisions focused on delivering consistent, modern learning environments for all students. 

Transparency & Accountability

Documents and Resources

2025 - 26 WCSD FMP Highlights