UPDATE: The Washoe County School District Board has found a replacement for former Trustee Scott Kelley, following his resignation in August.

After considering 13 candidates on Tuesday, Trustees narrowed it down to four people that they interviewed during the school district's regular board meeting. Sharron Kennedy, Lisa Genasci, Heather Parkyn, and Jack Heinemann were the top four choices.

Then it all came down to one.

Trustees unanimously voted to fill the District A Trustee vacancy with Sharon Kennedy, and she was officially appointed at the end of the meeting. 

I think we made an excellent choice. It was a very difficult decision, and we had a lot of great candidates." said Malena Raymond, the President of the WCSD Board of Trustees. "Sharron Kennedy really, with her background as a former principal and her strong support from her area, and not just Incline Village, but all of South Reno made her an excellent choice for us."

"I just want to help," Kennedy said. "I want to bring whatever I CAN TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO TAKE CARE OF OUR DISTRICT AND TAKE CARE OF OUR STUDENTS.

KENNEDY WAS RECENTLY AN ADMINISTRATOR, SHE ALSO HAS A MEDICAL BACKGROUND, AND WAS ON THE REOPENING TASKFORCE.

although KENNEDY IS SERVING ONLY THREE MONTHS, TRUSTEES SAY THE POSITION WAS IMPORTANT TO FILL.

2 NEWS ALSO SPOKE WITH JEFF CHURCH, WHO IS RUNNING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, HOPING TO FILL THE DISTRICT A SEAT.

CHURCH WASN'T CHOSEN TO FILL THE TEMPORARY SPOT. AT A BOARD MEETING PRIOR SEPTEMBER 22, A MAJORITY OF TRUSTEES EXPRESS THAT THEY'D PREFER A CANDIDATE THAT ISN'T RUNNING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

CHURCH TOLD 2 NEWS THAT HE DIDN'T THINK HE'D BE CHOSEN TO FILL THE TEMPORARY POSITION DUE TO THE TRUSTEES PREFERENCE, HOWEVER HE'S CONFIDENT FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION. CHURCH SAYS HE'D LIKE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE BOARD IF HE IS ELECTED.

"tHE BOARD'S DYSFUNCTIONAL, i'M NOT GOING TO SUGAR COAT IT," SAID CHURCH. "WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. WE'RE THE LAST IN THE NATION IN EDUCATION, BUT THEY GO OFF ON ALL THESE TANGENTS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION. WE'RE LAST IN THE NATION. LET'S FIX THAT."

DESPITE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDINGSCOTT KELLEY'SRESIGNATION, KELLEY IS ALSO RUNNING FOR THE DISTRICT A SEAT IN NOVEMBER.

The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees is scheduled to discuss several important topics including: fiscal updates and staffing implications; a discussion surrounding Gov. Sisolak’s Road to Recovery: Moving to a New Normal; and selection of a candidate to fill the District A Trustee seat vacancy.

This regular public meeting will be held in person, and members of the community may submit questions before and during the meeting to publiccomments@washoeschools.net.

Public comment will begin no earlier than 4 p.m.

Face coverings will be required of all attendees, and social distancing will be strictly enforced.

The 3 p.m. meeting will be at McQueen High School, at 6055 Lancer Street in Reno.

Related: WCSD Posts Online COVID-19 Data Dashboard 

Related: WCSD Adds One Day to School Year to Make Up For Missed Class 

 

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