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Students at Churchill County High School plan to wear black armbands and participate in a silent protest today to express support for Principal John Riley, who unexpectedly resigned Wednesday.
Riley quit amid a contentious dispute with district administrators. The administrators' association filed a grievance against Superintendent Donn Livoni on Riley's behalf after Riley received an unfavorable evaluation in August. The matter went to mediation Tuesday, ending with Riley's sudden resignation.
"I grieved my evaluation because I was not happy with the content of it. I'm just asking for fairness," Riley said earlier.
Details of the agreement are confidential. Riley cleaned out his office early Wednesday morning while high school teachers heard the news at a staff meeting. His resignation becomes official July 31 but he is on administrative leave effective immediately.
A notice circulated around the high school Wednesday urging pupils to wear black armbands and meet on the quad at lunchtime today for a silent protest.
"This day has been declared by the students of CCHS as a black day for education in Churchill County," the flyer states. "Defend your civil rights! Be there!"
High school senior Leilani Fisher, who works as a high school intern at the Lahontan Valley News, said many students were upset to hear about Riley leaving. She said the mood on campus Wednesday was "very tense, but charged."
The Churchill County Educators' Association is planning how to address Riley's resignation with the school board of trustees. Union President Dave Gustafson said he expects high school teachers at today's school board meeting and at the Feb. 10 meeting when Livoni's contract renewal could be considered.
School Board Member Greg Koenig said Wednesday he will insist that Livoni's contract renewal be discussed at the board's Feb. 10 meeting, especially in light of Riley's resignation.
"Mr. Livoni has his contract up for extension on the 10th and if we, as trustees, truly represent our constituents, in good conscience we need to listen to them," Koenig said about the controversy.
"It better be on the agenda for the 10th. We will make it very specific we want to discuss and act on Livoni's contract in an open meeting. If it's not done, there's going to be some problems."
Livoni was out of town Wednesday attending meetings and couldn't be contacted for comment.
When Riley was hired to lead the high school in 2000, he arrived under a cloud of controversy and didn't have the widespread support of the teachers he does today.
In 1998, Riley was romantically involved with a math teacher at a high school in Gillette, Wyo., who murdered her husband and then killed herself, according to news accounts.
Cheryl Trover, 37, and Riley had a relationship for four years before she fatally shot and stabbed her husband. She staged a break-in at her home, and tied up her two children as part of the plan.
The .22 caliber handgun used in the murder belonged to Riley but he was not implicated in any crime.
He left his job, telling the local newspaper it would be too painful to stay as principal at Campbell County High School because of the tragedy.
John Hyatt, assistant principal at Churchill High School, said Wednesday teachers who protested Riley's hiring four years ago have changed their minds.
"A lot of them who didn't start out being a John Riley supporter are now strong supporters because of his educational leadership," Hyatt said.
Marlene Garcia can be contacted at mgarcia@lahontanvalleynews.com
Riley quit amid a contentious dispute with district administrators. The administrators' association filed a grievance against Superintendent Donn Livoni on Riley's behalf after Riley received an unfavorable evaluation in August. The matter went to mediation Tuesday, ending with Riley's sudden resignation.
"I grieved my evaluation because I was not happy with the content of it. I'm just asking for fairness," Riley said earlier.
Details of the agreement are confidential. Riley cleaned out his office early Wednesday morning while high school teachers heard the news at a staff meeting. His resignation becomes official July 31 but he is on administrative leave effective immediately.
A notice circulated around the high school Wednesday urging pupils to wear black armbands and meet on the quad at lunchtime today for a silent protest.
"This day has been declared by the students of CCHS as a black day for education in Churchill County," the flyer states. "Defend your civil rights! Be there!"
High school senior Leilani Fisher, who works as a high school intern at the Lahontan Valley News, said many students were upset to hear about Riley leaving. She said the mood on campus Wednesday was "very tense, but charged."
The Churchill County Educators' Association is planning how to address Riley's resignation with the school board of trustees. Union President Dave Gustafson said he expects high school teachers at today's school board meeting and at the Feb. 10 meeting when Livoni's contract renewal could be considered.
School Board Member Greg Koenig said Wednesday he will insist that Livoni's contract renewal be discussed at the board's Feb. 10 meeting, especially in light of Riley's resignation.
"Mr. Livoni has his contract up for extension on the 10th and if we, as trustees, truly represent our constituents, in good conscience we need to listen to them," Koenig said about the controversy.
"It better be on the agenda for the 10th. We will make it very specific we want to discuss and act on Livoni's contract in an open meeting. If it's not done, there's going to be some problems."
Livoni was out of town Wednesday attending meetings and couldn't be contacted for comment.
When Riley was hired to lead the high school in 2000, he arrived under a cloud of controversy and didn't have the widespread support of the teachers he does today.
In 1998, Riley was romantically involved with a math teacher at a high school in Gillette, Wyo., who murdered her husband and then killed herself, according to news accounts.
Cheryl Trover, 37, and Riley had a relationship for four years before she fatally shot and stabbed her husband. She staged a break-in at her home, and tied up her two children as part of the plan.
The .22 caliber handgun used in the murder belonged to Riley but he was not implicated in any crime.
He left his job, telling the local newspaper it would be too painful to stay as principal at Campbell County High School because of the tragedy.
John Hyatt, assistant principal at Churchill High School, said Wednesday teachers who protested Riley's hiring four years ago have changed their minds.
"A lot of them who didn't start out being a John Riley supporter are now strong supporters because of his educational leadership," Hyatt said.
Marlene Garcia can be contacted at mgarcia@lahontanvalleynews.com
