Board authorizes president, vice president to negotiate incoming superintendent’s contract, retains outside firm amid conflict concerns

The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees voted 5–2 on May 26 to authorize the board president and vice president to negotiate an employment agreement with incoming superintendent Tiffany McMaster and to retain the law firm Simon Hall Johnston to assist in drafting and negotiating the contract.

Trustee Dr. Nichollet moved the measure, saying the board needed an experienced legal team to complete the work efficiently. The motion authorized President Mayberry and Vice President Woodley to lead negotiations and expressly named Simon Hall Johnston to assist; Trustee Phoenix seconded the motion.

Trustee Smith said she would vote no, arguing the board should avoid hiring a lawyer who also performs other work that brings them into a subordinate reporting relationship with the superintendent. “An attorney who is subordinate to the superintendent with existing matters and likely future matters … feels blurry even if it doesn't qualify as a conflict,” she said, urging a competitive selection or assignment of an attorney who would not later report to the superintendent.

Chief legal counsel Sarah Montalvo told trustees that, legally, the district is the client but that independent board counsel acts to represent the board’s interests. She said the engagement would be with the district through the board and that the board would retain the firm and vote on the item.

Board supporters argued the firm and Anthony Hall have institutional knowledge and the ability to move quickly. Trustees discussed an engagement letter that allows the firm to assign other attorneys if appropriate; the board president said it was his intent that Anthony Hall lead the matter but the firm could provide associates where needed.

After discussion and no public comment on the item, the board approved the motion by a 5–2 margin. The transcript records Trustee Smith explicitly announcing her forthcoming “no” vote; the other dissenting vote is recorded only in the tally (the board announced the item passed five to two). The motion directs the board president and vice president to negotiate the agreement and allows the firm to be retained to assist in negotiations and drafting.

The vote authorizes the negotiating team to return a final agreement for board consideration; it does not itself finalize terms of employment or approve a contract.

What’s next: The board’s negotiating team is now authorized to complete talks with Tiffany McMaster and to bring a proposed employment agreement to the full board for approval.