Erich Obermayr Voices Concern Over Statements Attributed to Lyon County School Trustee – Letter to Editor

Lyon County NV – February 9, 2026

To the Pizen Switch Times:

Lyon County School Board Trustee Sherry Parsons, District 1, (western Fernley and the area bounded by 95A on the east and USA Parkway on the south) made certain offensive remarks at the January 27, 2026, Board of Trustees meeting. She stated, apparently referring to the Fernley High School graduation ceremony, that a particular girl’s cap and gown decoration made her look like “a Mexican restaurant.” Trustee Parsons went on to say “I mean if there was, um, drug signs or something I wouldn’t have known because there was so much on her.”

Ms. Parsons’ intention was to criticize excessive decorations on graduates’ caps and gowns, and as an example equated a student’s decorations with a “Mexican restaurant.” In other words, she thought adding the pejorative “Mexican” to her description somehow reinforced her claim that the decorations were improperly excessive.

When Ms. Parsons implied that, for all she knew, there could have been “drug signs” amidst the girl’s decorations simply because those decorations were Mexican in nature—and for no other reason and with no evidence whatsoever—that is textbook racism. Saying, in so many words, Mexican=drugs, is racist.

Let me be clear, I am not accusing Ms. Parsons of herself being a racist. I do not know Ms. Parsons and her family, nor have I spent any significant time with her. I would never make that kind of an accusation without being familiar with someone or having direct knowledge of their personal opinions. That said, her words and the way she used them do leave a racist stain, no matter what her motivation.

In addition, the fact that Ms. Parsons singled out and targeted an individual student is unacceptable behavior for anyone connected with the School District, let alone a School Board Trustee. Although Ms. Parsons did not mention the girl by name, the circumstances are such that her identity is either already known in the community or could be easily established. This is a gross violation of privacy which possibly exposes the girl to harassment and even harm, and School District to consequent legal liability.  

I urge everyone to contact the School Board Trustees, and let them know we, as taxpayers and county residents, will not tolerate racism in our schools under any circumstances and no matter what the source.

Erich Obermayr

Silver City

From Pizen Switch Times Editor: Here is the link to the Lyon County School District Meeting on 1.27.2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ewjOnTryQ