Letter: DCSD kids deserve more than mediocrity

Douglas County Citizens, It has become increasingly obvious that Trustee Doug Englekirk is no longer a person we can trust to carry out the business of the Douglas County School District (DCSD.) Not because of his beliefs or ideas on what he thinks is best for our kids, but because by his own admission at recent debates and legal proceedings, he simply doesn’t have the time that is required of a trustee to perform the business of the DCSD.

According to his family's Facebook page, he has had no shortage of time to fly his plane and travel to many beautiful places over the last few years for surf trips, climbing trips, etc. Normally there would be absolutely nothing wrong with this if he was meeting the obligations of a trustee as he was elected to do, but he is not, and the excuses must come to a full stop.

He has given four years of his time to our school district and I thank him for that. During that time, it should have become clear that his job as a trustee requires an enormous commitment that he is not fulfilling. A commitment to our kids, teachers, administrators, and community.

Now, there is a video of his recent testimony under oath on 9/18/2024 in which he unequivocally admits that he is not fulfilling his legal fiduciary obligations as a trustee of the DCSD. Trustee Englekirk admits, under oath, that he is approving payments of vouchers to vendors, including but not limited to Joey Gilbert, without actually verifying all of them. By this admission, under oath, he has now set the DCSD up for a possible denial or lack of coverage from Pool PACT. This is an absolutely unacceptable and unnecessary risk. Trustee Englekirk, you are not performing the most basic functions of the job that we elected you to do.

Although sometimes an excuse for mediocrity, the “best you can do” is acceptable in some situations, but the best I can do may not be as good as someone else can do and that’s why that person may be more qualified for said situation. In this situation, it is entrusting trustee Englekirk with my children’s education and the future of the DCSD. The DCSD employees and students are much more deserving than that of Trustee Englekirk's lackluster level of dedication and elementary understanding of fiscal diligence. The righteous thing to do would be to step back from the District 3 trustee race in Douglas County and allow Erinn Miller, also a Republican and conservative, to carry the torch. Our kids and staff deserve someone who will work harder for them than Trustee Englekirk has shown he is willing to.

Chris Larson
Parent
Roundhill, NV