Washoe County School District Allocates $500,000 to Defend Against Jeff Church Lawsuits

The Washoe County School Board voted 6-0 on Tuesday to allocate $500,000 to fight current and potential future lawsuits from fellow trustee Jeff Church, and to deny Church's request to investigate anonymous complaints against him.

Church has filed two lawsuits against the district in recent months. In one, he's requesting that the district fulfill a public records request for the resumes and personal details of candidates who applied to fill an opening on the Safe and Health Schools Commission in July 2023. In the other, he's asking the board to launch an investigation into anonymous sexual harassment complaints made against him. 

The Washoe County School District has treated the information requested in both lawsuits as confidential. 

At the meeting, trustees and the chief general counsel described a "pattern" of complaints and lawsuits filed by Church costing the district over $100,000.

“Trustee Church has been filing lawsuits with the intent of financially harming the district," said board president Beth Smith.

Though he did not vote on the agenda items involving his lawsuits, Church did not recuse himself from the meeting, saying he felt he had a right to defend himself.

“I’ll state for the record that I feel I’m being not treated fairly here to ask my questions because – an hour of character assassination and not being able to ask questions to respond to that," he said.

During public comment, attendees took the mic to support Church, and others expressed concern over the financial and legal consequences of complying with the demands in his lawsuits.

The district's chief general counsel Neil Rombardo said that he hopes he will not have to spend the full $500,000, but he is anticipating even more lawsuits from Church, and if necessary, will use the money to hire outside legal counsel for support.

Board members added the stipulation that Rombardo report back to them on all expenses related to Church's litigation.

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The Washoe County School Board is considering allocating up to $500,000 to fight lawsuits from Jeff Church -- one of its own school board trustees.

According to the district, Church has filed two lawsuits against the district in the last two months.

Trustees are now set to discuss hiring outside counsel to defend the district against the lawsuits.

Church says that despite a possible conflict of interest, he will participate in the discussion so that he has a chance to defend himself. The district says to-date, lawsuits and complaints that Church has filed and supported have cost the district $345,000 over three years.

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The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees has received a response from an attorney representing a member they are set to discuss at a meeting on Tuesday, March 12.

In the letter, attorney Luke Andrew Busby writes on behalf of Trustee Jeff Church.

The letter agrees with the School District hiring outside counsel to handle a pair of lawsuits filed by Church, though it takes issue with how much the district is looking to spend on obtaining that counsel.

The letter says that Church is not seeking damages in his legal actions, but instead is looking to "compel WCSD to adhere to its own established rules and regulations concerning the conduct of investigations and to ensure the disclosure of public records."

In his letter, Church's attorney also accuses the School District of mishandling responses to public records requests.

The letter goes on to address what it describes as whistleblower complaints against Church, saying that the District should welcome an investigation to substantiate their claims against him.

The letter does not say what the whistleblowers are alleging against Church, but in an email sent along with the letter to 2 News Nevada, Church himself alludes to claims of sexual harassment.

Church has filed for re-election to the board according to the letter and his email. The letter claims that charges against him might seriously damage his standings and associations in the community.

The letter addresses action filed to compel the district's chief auditor, Kirk Starkey, to bring in an independent investigator to examine the claims.

Church's attorney claims that his client is prepared to discuss a waiver of any potential claims against the WCSD in exchange for the appointment of an external investigator.

We reached out to the Washoe County School District for a response, and they said they had nothing to add at this time. 

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

The Washoe County School District is considering using up to $500,000 to fight lawsuits from one of its own school board trustees.

Two lawsuits have been filed against the district by Trustee Jeff Church, according to district officials.

The $500,000 would be used to bring in outside legal counsel to fight those suits.

Neil Rombardo, the WCSD's chief legal counsel, said the money would come from the general fund in a letter to Church.

That fund is used to fund schools, student programs, salaries, and benefits.

The issue will be discussed at a school board meeting on March 12th. That meeting is set to start at 9 a.m.

The agenda for the meeting has yet to be posted.

Court documents filed by Church can be read below.