Education leadership in Washoe County has seen several changes just this week as an interim superintendent took the helm and voters elected two first-time trustees. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports that after several months of turmoil for the school board, the district is finally entering a new chapter.
Nick Smith beat out board President Barbara Clark by almost 30 percentage points, while Veronica Frenkel narrowly defeated Jim Shaw.
One of Frenkel's top priorities will be rebuilding the community's trust in the board after recent controversy over the board's illegal closed meeting back in July which resulted in former superintendent Pedro Martinez being relieved of his duties.
While speaking in downtown Reno on election night, Frenkel said the issue cannot be swept under the rug.
"You know, some people say that there needs to be an apology," Frenkel says, "and I think we can call it that, but I really think there needs to be an acknowledgement that mistakes were made and that we learned from those mistakes, and we're going to move forward and do it differently."
After Martinez filed a wrongful termination lawsuit last month, the school board agreed to pay more than $700,000 to settle the dispute.
