School board grappling with familiar issues again

It’s déjà vu to October 2021 for the Washoe County School Board.

In meetings that month, the sevenmember board discussed the search for a new superintendent and spent hours talking about what to do with Trustee Jeff Church.

Church had won the District A seat, representing an area east of the airport and south to Carson City, by 19 percentage points in 2020. Less than a year later, the board brought him up for possible censure. Then-board president Angie Taylor said it was necessary because Church was spreading misinformation.

Censure would have given Taylor the authority to cut off Church’s comments during meetings and could prevent him from sitting on district committees. After nine hours, the board tabled the discussion and never brought it back.

Fast forward nearly two and a half years, and the first meeting of March is also looking to be a long one. The first agenda items are on what to do with Church after the district said it needs $500,000 to hire outside lawyers to deal with his actions, complaints and lawsuits.

The board will also get an update on the search for a new superintendent at Tuesday’s meeting.

Trustee’s character on agenda after lawsuits filed

Church’s character and conduct will be discussed, according to the agenda posted on the district’s website Thursday. The meeting has been moved up to 9 a.m. rather than the typical 2 p.m. start.

Church recently filed two lawsuits against the district: one after his request for public records was denied and the second after the district refused to