Suit prompts release of documents

     Associated Press
      RENO -- In response to a lawsuit filed by the Reno Gazette-Journal, Washoe County schools chief Mary Nebgen has released confidential memorandums she has sent to board members since 1994.
      Nebgen said she preferred briefing trustees on various school district issues in confidential memos instead of during meetings to save time.
      Many memos contained sensitive information about students and personnel, she added. About 50 memos were not released for that reason.
      The school district created a file of the memos after the Gazette-Journal filed a lawsuit seeking the documents. The memos can be read by the public in a binder at the superintendent's office.
      The newspaper wanted to open the memos to the public because Nebgen rarely discusses issues during board meetings.
      But Trustee Dan Coppa defended Nebgen, saying her role is "to act as a conduit to staff and the faculty."