CLARK COUNTY (KTNV) — The Clark County School District Board of Trustees met for the first time on Thursday following the resignation of Trustee Katie Williams amid claims she no longer lives in the state.
There was no action item to address filling Williams' vacant position, according to the meeting agenda for Thursday, but there was room for public comment on non-agenda items.
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Several individuals posed concerns over Williams' resignation during public comment, chiefly in regard to the board's search for a new superintendent for the district.
Kenneth Belknap with the Clark County Education Association (CCEA) said during public comment the board's efforts to find a superintendent will have ripple effects in the district for years to come and stand as a means for building trust.
Belknap said Williams' resignation was the first step in building that trust, then he said that CCEA is calling for a full investigation into the role that board President Evelyn Garcia Morales played in allegedly protecting and covering up Williams' out-of-state residency.
Furthermore, Belknap said CCEA is also calling for the board to review all votes and motions decided on a 4-3 vote where Williams was in the majority.
Several others put into question ethical considerations on Williams' vacancy and during her time as a trustee. Kamilah Bywaters, who is running as a candidate for District E, said during public comment that the board should have called a special meeting to appoint a new trustee immediately following Williams' resignation.
Though trustees never addressed it as an agenda item, the absence of Williams' seat was felt during the board meeting.
When it came time for trustees to question the findings of search firm HYA & Associates' draft on a superintendent leadership profile, Trustee Isaac Barron posed concerns over whether or not the timeline for their search should now be extended.
If the board has to amend the timeline, Trustee Barron asked if HYA & Associates could come up with a contingency plan.
But why amend the timeline? It has to do with Williams' resignation.
Trustee Barron said District B, the district that former Trustee Williams represented, is now disenfranchised on the board — a large population of the community no longer has a vote.
A vote that will not be considered on Sept. 26 when the board votes on a revised draft of the superintendent leadership profile and no one is there to fill Williams' seat.
"We continue to say this is the board's process," said Dr. Shawn Joseph with the search firm. "Ultimately, the board will decide and we will adjust."
"For the record, yes — it can be amended?" Barron asked.
"That's correct," Dr. Joseph said.
So what happens now that there is a vacant seat on the board? Channel 13's Jhovani Carrillo found those answers for you.
Channel 13's Justin Hinton spoke with former board Trustee Dane Watson — whose name was attached to the DA's letter sent to Trustee Williams — for further insight on the current board, its policies, and what Williams' vacancy means for District B.
