Church Being Railroaded by Other WCSD Board Members

At the  Washoe County School District (WCSD) school board meeting on Tuesday, March 12, a contentious 6-0 vote unfolded, further highlighting the deepening divide among members as Trustee Jeff Church found himself at the center of the storm, as his efforts to address critical issues within the education system met resistance and accusations from his fellow trustees.

Church, widely regarded as the lone voice advocating for meaningful reform, faced a barrage of attacks and attempts to discredit him by the majority of the board. Despite his efforts to improve the education system for children, Church found himself marginalized and targeted for legal action.

The first decision passed unanimously, involved allocating $500,000 of school funds to target Church legally. The move came as a response to Church’s pursuit of public records through a writ of mandamus, a legal avenue aimed at compelling transparency from the board.

In a subsequent 6-0 decision, the board chose not to investigate sexual harassment allegations against Church, raising questions about accountability and transparency within the district. Church’s abstention from both votes highlighted the unanimous opposition he faced from fellow trustees.

Then, Chief General Counsel Neil Rombardo’s presentation during the meeting painted Church as a threat to the district, further exacerbating tensions. His attempts to paint Church as an “internal threat” reek of desperation and highlight the lengths some will go to maintain their grip on power.

Furthermore, Church’s attempts to address the allegations met with resistance from the board. Despite his calls for an independent investigation, the board voted against it, further fueling speculation of a concerted effort to silence dissent.

Even the casual observer can see that the allegations against Church, particularly those of harassment, have been weaponized by the board in an attempt to discredit him. Despite Church’s calls for an independent investigation, the board ignored his request, undermining the principles of justice and fairness.

As the November 2024 elections loom, the community must hold the board accountable for its actions. Since Church and other trustees are up for reelection, it’s time to send a message saying incompetence and corruption of the school board is not to be tolerated.