Following an executive session Aug. 2, the Reynolds School District Board unanimously voted to uphold former Superintendent Joyce Henstrand’s decision to fire Reynolds High School Principal Jeff Gilbert in June.

The district has cited alleged improper use of school funds as well as alleged insubordination among its reasons for firing Gilbert. During the executive session, Gilbert’s attorney, Christopher Lundberg, presented a defense of Gilbert, according to the former principal.

Gilbert was informed of his termination in a June 20 letter from Henstrand, who retired June 30.

The district has claimed Gilbert engaged in dozens of possible violations of district spending policies on such things as meals, gifts for teachers and school equipment. However, in past statements, Lundberg has stated that Gilbert did nothing different than previous Reynolds principals — a contention the investigation refutes.

When contacted for a response to the board’s Aug. 2 decision, Gilbert said, “I’m just really disappointed.” He added that he believed the investigation “was very biased from the beginning,” and that “allegations and charges changed over the course of time,” effectively denying him due process.