LATEST UPDATE: Trustee Kevin Child has responded to the ban by CCSD.
I am very sadden that he has created such upheaval for our employees, especially when we should be working on challenges in our district
In my opinion this is clearly retaliatory for my good faith questioning of his performance with respect to the districts finances and PGS agreement with the teachers union... I am not surprised, just go back to his exit speech in the threats that he alluded to...
Regardless, I will continue to represent my constituents by asking those hard questions and looking for better solution.
Sincerely
Trustee Kevin L Child
UPDATE OCT. 24, 2017: Clark County School District Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky has issued a memo explaining his decision to ban trustee Kevin Child from schools.
Skorkowsky sites the safety of students and employees for his decision and explains the timeline of events leading to the ban.
“It is my most important job to keep our students and employees safe. Over the past few years, I have worked with the Board of School Trustees officers to ask Trustee Kevin Child multiple times to modify his behavior because of repeated complaints that he has made staff members feel uncomfortable. He has also received guidance from CCSD's Affirmative Action officer and legal counsel. Unfortunately, Trustee Child has not followed the advice.
“In order to avoid further incidents, I also issued a directive earlier this year that he does not visit schools or central offices without an invitation from the school principal or department head. He has ignored this directive on multiple occasions.
“It has reached the point where I must trespass Trustee Child from district property to protect employees who have made serious complaints against him so they can operate in a safe and respectful work environment. He is only allowed to carry out the specific duties of his position, which are to hold pre-scheduled meetings with me and two employees I have designated as his liaisons, and to attend school board meetings and monthly parent meetings. Otherwise, he is not allowed on district property. I have directed staff to call School Police if he shows up at their school or district office building and does not comply with their request to leave.
“Many of the employees who have lodged complaints against Trustee Child - and witnesses to the events - have said they are fearful of retaliation. Many employees have stated that Trustee Child has threatened their job.
“I did not make this decision lightly. However, I have a responsibility to protect our employees who have lodged complaints against Trustee Child. I also have a responsibility to protect the district from possible litigation that could arise due to Trustee Child's actions.”
UPDATE DEC. 12, 2016: After our initial report, Trustee Kevin Child reached out to 13 Action News to share his side of the story and respond to the allegations against him.
Child says none of the alleged threats or claims he berated teachers and students are true and says the superintendent and teachers union are trying to smear him.
Child says he's asked for documentation of the allegations, but there hasn't been any.
"I'm sure it's all politically driven," Child says.
He suspects the memo was based on backlash for his support for reorganizing Clark County Schools.
"It's a bully tactic. And we're trying to teach our kids not to bully. This is a shame. It really is," he says.
Child says other trustees also visit schools regularly and feels he was unfairly singled out. Despite a petition for him to step down, Child says he's gotten messages of support from staff and teachers tell him to keep fighting.
"I want to make sure every child gets a good education," he says.
We reached to the Clark County School District for comment, but they said they couldn't issue a statement because this is a personnel matter.
Child says he's proud of the work he's done on the board, and plans to run again in 2018.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- In a memo from the superintendent, Clark County School District Trustee Kevin Child has been barred from visiting schools across the district without getting permission from an administrator.
In the letter obtained by 13 Action News, the restrictions against Child were made "in order to ensure a safe and respectful working environment."
.@CCSD_Trustees Board Member Kevin Child has been barred from entering schools without permission amid complaints from some teachers @KTNV pic.twitter.com/F3S7Tu7l6Y
— Tom George (@TheTomGeorge) December 6, 2016
The letter doesn't address why the decision was necessary, but the director of the Clark County Educators Association John Vellardita says he's had multiple complaints from teachers about Child's behavior.
He says he's had female staff members tell him they're uncomfortable around Child, and they've seen reported instances of Child visiting schools and berating teachers and students.
