With the Lyon County School District pursuing a bond question on the November ballot, the LCSD Board of Trustees was reminded of the legal limitations trustee and school employees have regarding talking about the ballot questions, but mainly that they can't use school resources to campaign.

Don Lattin, independent legal counsel for the district, told the board at the June 24 meeting that state ethics laws tell public officials "what they can and cannot do" regarding ballot questions. He passed out a copy of Nevada Revised Statutes 281A, which is called "Ethics in Government."

Essentially, Lattin said, it says, "You cannot use any school district resources (or personnel) to promote the bond issue."

He referred to NRS 281A.520, whose heading says, "Public officer or employee prohibited from requesting or otherwise causing governmental entity to incur expense or make expenditure to support or oppose ballot questions or candidate in certain circumstances."

Lattin said that doesn't mean a trustee can't talk to people about the ballot question.

An example he gave dealt with Clark County school trustee who asked a secretary to send an email on the trustee's behalf regarding support of a ballot question, and someone levied a complaint with the Nevada Ethics Commission. He reemphasized, "You cannot utilize any school district personnel or resources," such as email or school or school district letterhead.

He stressed if a trustee wants to send an email about supporting the ballot question that they use their personal computer and personal email provider.

Lattin said the best way to deal with promotion of a ballot question is where a political action committee (PAC) is formed for this purpose, stressing that more than once.

In response to a question, he said a trustee can speak about the ballot question at a meeting, such as in response to a question; the trustee just can't use school resources while doing so. He said this applies to administrators, teachers and all LCSD staff.

Lattin said they should talk about it at a school event, such as a back-to-school night, because that could be a violation "because you have a captive audience."

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