Douglas County School Board special meeting with termination of superintendent on agenda

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The newer members of the Douglas County School Board (DCSB) have not kept their feelings about Superintendent Keith Lewis a secret, and according to their special meeting agenda, that relationship is about to end.

On Friday, October 6 at 3 p.m., the board will be meeting at Douglas High School's Media Center, and the public is invited to attend in person, or on Zoom (instructions here).

The agenda item says:

Mutual Termination of Superintendent Without Cause (Discussion and For Possible Action). Description: The Board will consider whether to approve a proposed mutual agreement with the Superintendent pursuant to which the District will exercise its contractual right to terminate, without cause, the Employment Agreement of the Superintendent, and to authorize payments in accordance therewith. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the proposed mutual agreement with the Superintendent, pursuant to the contractual right to terminate, without cause, the Employment Agreement of the Superintendent, and authorize payments in accordance therewith.

An agreement arranged between Lewis' attorney and the DCSD attorney that could be approved Friday says the District will pay Lewis his continued salary of $180,250 for a period of one year, as well as paying into PERS $53,000 to $60,000.

South Tahoe Now sent an email to all school board members, asking for comment as to what was previously a rumor that Lewis's time at DCSD was coming to an end. Two replied.

"This is sad," said Board Trustee Tony Magnotta in voicing displeasure at the new board members' actions. "Keith is the greatest administrator that I have ever met."

"I just found out myself," said Katherine Dickerson. "I’m to understand it’s a resignation."

Since being elected in November, Board President Susan Jansen, and trustees David Burns, and Dickerson have been following what appears to be a set plan, and many members of the public said terminating Lewis had been their plan, according to previous comments. Lewis, who has worked in the district for three decades and has been superintendent for just over three years, has been at odds with the new board members.

Nick Maier, who is listed as the campaign manager for Fred Simon for Nevada Governor and an East Valley resident, gave a list of suggested topics to the new board in January 2023. In a public record request obtained by South Tahoe Now, Maier lists several topics and timelines (and if marked as "done" at that time):

- Set up meetings with all principals at every school to introduce yourselves as a team. Establish a relationship with them separate from Keith Lewis. We agreed that these meetings should be held with all three new board members present.
- New attorney - Review the plan sent by Joey Gilbert, and, if agreed, meet with his law firm in Reno. "Done."
- Review the contract with the existing DCSD attorney.
- Schedule a meet and greet for all parents and the new board members.

The board hired Joey Gilbert as their attorney in July, firing long-time legal counsel Maupin, Cox & Legoy. Since then, his first month of legal services invoices were just over $35,000. The second month, though not officially released or voted on, appears to be just over $68,500. $4,875 is from September 12, the date Gilbert and a staff member were at the long board meeting. If the board approves the September invoice at their regular meeting in October, the new legal team will have earned over $103,500 in two months. The fiscal year budget for legal services for DCSD is $160,000.

Several parents and teachers have said they are planning to be in attendance Friday to voice their displeasure with the termination of Lewis.