District overview
Esmeralda County School District
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How is Esmeralda County School District paid for?
Esmeralda County School District serves about 65 students across a huge, empty county: Dyer Elementary, Goldfield Elementary (PreK-8) and a virtual high school, with most high schoolers attending Tonopah (Nye County) or Bishop, California under attendance agreements. A five-member elected Board of Trustees sets the budget and hires the superintendent. Money comes mostly from Nevada's Pupil-Centered Funding Plan, which pays per student, so small changes in enrollment matter a lot.
Shrinking enrollment
80 students in March 2025, 69 in February 2026, 65 in May 2026; 67 projected for 2026-27 (with PreK).
Careful budgets
The auditor warned in November 2025 to watch spending under the new funding model, and in December the business office said positions must be reviewed every year.
Who decides
Five trustees: Carl Brownfield (president), Trinie Johnson (vice president), Anna Pacheco (clerk), Marlayna Payne and Nicole Medlock.
New leader
Superintendent Jonathan Firme resigned in August 2026; the board promoted District Principal Scott Shakespeare.
Most votes were unanimous, the district again qualified for free meals for every student, and the 2024-25 audit was accepted without reported problems.
Where the district stands
Major projects
Goldfield gym heating and cooling replacement
completeAfter a member asked for updates in February, the board picked Comfort Cooling & Heating's high-efficiency system for $94,764 in May. The final bill was due in August.
- Update requested
- Contract approved
- Final bill expected
Funding
District funds (not stated)
Dyer school classroom repairs
completeDyer classrooms were taken out of use after leaks; repairs ran through the district's insurer. Staff expected them mostly done by July 31, and PreK and K-2 rooms were back in use by August.
- Leak still being investigated
- Insurer requires licensed roofer
- Rooms back in use
Funding
Insurance claim (amount not stated)
Silver Peak facilities lease
proposedA resolution to lease Silver Peak buildings for commercial use at no less than $4,500 a year was on the October 13 agenda.
- Resolution of intent on agenda
- Lease proposals to be heard (if adopted)
Funding
Lease income (minimum per year)
Recent news
Built from Esmeralda County School District Board of Trustees agendas, minutes and board packets from November 2025 to October 2026, posted in public Google Drive folders linked from esmeraldacountyschools.com.
Get alerts for Esmeralda County School District
We read every agenda, packet, recording, and set of minutes, and write up the decisions that affect families — each one linked to the document it came from.
Copy the RSS link into your feed reader to get new published alerts.