EXCLUSIVE: Joey Gilbert Resigns As General Counsel Of the Douglas County School District

The Globe has learned that attorney Joey Gilbert has resigned as General Counsel of the Douglas County School District (DCSD) where he has served since July 2023. Gilbert told the Globe that his mission was accomplished by restoring governance and accountability in the district “despite the resistance from the former superintendent and a few of the trustees, namely Linda Gilkerson, Carey Kangus, and Yvonne Wagstaff who collaborated with community activists to undermine and obstruct the board’s majority.”

Gilbert told the Globe: I never intended to indefinitely remain as General Counsel. I had told Dave Burns that I would stay until the superintendent was replaced and the objectives of the majority were accomplished. My goal was to stay until next month when there was a new board in place. The new board can now pick a new General Counsel.” 

In a press release, Gilbert highlights the immediate lawfare and obstruction that he and the district faced upon his hiring:

Upon my appointment as General Counsel for the Douglas County School District, my objectives were clear: to replace the superintendent, restore the authority of the elected trustees, and initiate a special counsel investigation to address any misconduct within the district. I am proud to announce that these goals have been successfully met.

When I began my tenure, I encountered significant resistance, including legal challenges and obstruction from certain community members, which resulted in over $500,000 in costs for the district. This not only strained our budget but also tarnished the reputation of our community, our school district, and our dedicated trustees.

The previous superintendent made it clear he was unwilling to collaborate with the newly elected board, leading to his departure. We are now under the leadership of a new superintendent who has performed exceptionally well, bringing stability and vision back to our schools.

Our administration has also addressed external pressures aimed at shifting power dynamics within school governance. We reviewed and amended our bylaws to ensure that authority remains with the elected school board members, as it should, rather than with unelected administrative roles. This action was crucial in maintaining the democratic process of school governance.

The lessons learned here are significant. They serve as a cautionary tale for school districts nationwide and especially in Nevada: it’s imperative to evaluate and uphold governance structures where elected officials hold the power as intended by the voters.

DCSD President David Burns told The Globe, “Joey did what we hired him to do, despite the onslaught of attacks. There is ample evidence that the prior superintendent and the former counsel tried to undermine the newly elected board. Despite the narrative, we never violated open meeting laws. The former superintendent only provided the newly elected trustees less than two hours of  training and four months after we were elected. His continued defiance to work the newly elected board members resulted in his personal decision to quit the district. The board’s majority then found a new superintendent and legal counsel who were willing to work with us on behalf of the community. The new superintendent Frankie Alvarado is fantastic and has done an amazing job on behalf of our students and community. I look forward to working with our newly elected board members so we can continue to provide strong oversight to make our schools the best they can be. The board believes in our teachers and our staff and we look forward to our continued success.”

Editor’s note: The article has been updated to include the names of the board members named by Joey Gilbert who allegedly obstructed the board’s majority.