Nye County School Board president Bryan Wulfenstein resigns, superintendent search launched

Bryan Wulfenstein submitted a formal resignation as president of the Nye County School District Board of Trustees, a move that took effect March 2, 2026, and occurred as trustees unanimously launched a search for a new district superintendent. At the same public meeting, the board voted unanimously to begin soliciting applications with a closing date of July 14, 2026, and to hire the next superintendent on a one-year contract.

Wulfenstein told trustees he wants a successor who can “hit the ground running” and deliver a strategic plan to the board within two months of hire. He framed the plan as pragmatic, saying, “I don’t think it has to be some glorious, magical thing that’s perfect.” He added the plan should be adaptable: “It can be a living, breathing plan — if we’re doing something and it’s not working, let’s change it and not do that anymore.” Wulfenstein also pushed for a one-year contract so the board can evaluate performance after a year rather than being locked into a three-year term; trustees approved that approach unanimously.

Trustee Teresa Stoddard resigned “the previous day,” according to board remarks, leaving a second recent vacancy on the board. Stoddard had represented Area II and served as board president before Wulfenstein assumed that role this year. Wulfenstein did not disclose a reason for Stoddard’s resignation during the meeting.

Trustee Chelsy Fischer urged the board to involve school principals and district administrators in the superintendent hiring process, saying consultation with building leaders should be part of the candidate review and selection. The board set a target of placing a new superintendent in the district by August 2026, aligning with the July 14 application deadline and Wulfenstein’s expectation of a two-month turnaround on an initial strategic plan.

The meeting also surfaced lingering personnel tensions. A person identified only as Shillingburg said he felt he had been terminated without explanation and without an opportunity to improve. Shillingburg wrote in a text message, “I have received zero feedback, except for a couple of complaints about strategic planning that I have done exactly how I said I would do and how it should be done,” and added, “No one understands the process except for me.” The supplied meeting excerpts do not state Shillingburg’s full name, official title, who terminated him, or the date of any termination.

With two unanimous motions recorded and a clear timeline set, the board’s immediate next steps are to accept applications through July 14 and begin candidate review with input from principals and administrators, aiming to place a superintendent in August and require a two-month strategic plan from that hire to address district performance concerns.