Douglas County School District Trustees approved Superintendent Keith Lewis' voluntary resignation at a meeting on Wednesday.

“I have been blessed to truly lead the best school district in Nevada but more importantly lead the best employees from support staff employees to administrators to teachers everyone who comes to work everyday for the good of our kids it has been truly an honor to serve as their leader.”

A previous separation agreement said that the relationship between Lewis and the district has deteriorated to the point where it's in the best interest of both parties that his employment agreement be terminated.

You may remember trustees ultimately decided to keep Lewis in his role last month.

His legal counsel says they asked for the resignation be brought up again after ensuring those who voted against it that Lewis was not being coerced to leave.

The board will now appoint the next most senior executive director as acting superintendent. 

OCTOBER 28, 2023: 

The Douglas County School District is expected to discuss the future of Superintendent Keith Lewis' future after Lewis announced his intention to resign recently. 

In the School Board's agenda for its next meeting on Wednesday, November 1, the board plan to decide whether to approve of Lewis' request to resign.

According to the separation agreement drafted ahead of the meeting, Lewis would resign but still be paid through the rest of the school year. 

The agreement also says the relationship between Lewis and the district has deteriorated to the point where it's in the best interest of both parties that his employment agreement be terminated. 

You can read the agenda for the November 1 meeting here: Public Meeting Agenda: November 1, 2023 at 11:30 AM - Special Board Meeting - BoardBook Premier

We will update this story as we learn more. 

Update from October 9: 

The Douglas County School District Superintendent says he intends to be at Tuesday's board meeting just days after trustees voted against dismissing him from his job.

In a statement, Superintendent Keith Lewis says:

"I am deeply humbled by the outpouring of support from the community. It remains to be seen whether the disdain that a faction of the Board has toward me will be so great that my continued presence as superintendent will be detrimental to the future operation of the District. While it is my intent to be at the October 10, 2023 board meeting, I intend to take a few days away to reflect on what’s best for my family, health, and future."

A move to remove Lewis from his position failed in a 4-3 vote at a special meeting of the school board Friday evening.

Board President Susan Jansen and trustees David Burns and Katherine Dickerson all voted to terminate Lewis’ contract, but they did not have a majority on the board or among the public in attendance. Members of the audience burst into applause when the motion to approve the termination agreement failed.

Lewis was not in attendance at the meeting. His lawyer, Tom Beko, said that district legal counsel and Lewis had mutually agreed on the termination. Beko said that DCSD's Attorney Joey Gilbert, who was hired in July, previously approached Lewis and asked him whether he felt he could effectively manage the district in light of the fractured board, and Lewis said no. Gilbert and Lewis then agreed to begin the termination process, according to Beko.

During public comment, many attendees acknowledged that Gilbert’s hire was a controversial board decision. Since taking up the position in July, Gilbert has billed the district over $100,00 for his services, $35,000 approved by the board in their September meeting, and almost $75,000 that they will vote whether to fulfill at their meeting next week.

Multiple board members acknowledged during the meeting that there has been political tension leading up to this meeting.

Board President Susan Janson, who voted to terminate Lewis' contract, said that the board will have to bridge those divides to find a path forward.

Original Story, October 3:

The Board of Trustees with the Douglas County School District are set to meet this Friday to approve the dismissal of current Superintendent Keith Lewis without cause.

The agenda for the meeting shows a recommendation to approve the agreement.

Lewis' contract with the district says that if he is terminated involuntarily without cause, he is entitled to his earned salary through his last day of employment and should be paid for any accrued but unused paid time off and unreimbursed expenses.

The contract also states that the Douglas County School District shall pay Lewis a gross lump sum equal to 12 months of his salary.

If Lewis' termination agreement is approved, the board will discuss and possibly consider the appointment of an acting superintendent.