LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — On Wednesday, the Clark County School Board of Trustees voted unanimously to hire a firm, which would seek community input and assist in finding a new superintendent for the school district.
The previous superintendent, Dr. Jesus Jara, announced his plans to resign from the role in January after holding the job for nearly six years.
For hours, trustees met to discuss how they would go about the hiring process and whether they’d prefer a local or nationwide search for candidates.
Members of the Clark County Education Association, a union that represents nearly 20,000 educators in southern Nevada, voiced concerns about a local search.
“We believe that there are some, potentially, qualified people nationally so there should be a search,” said John Vellardita, executive director of CCEA.
“It is worth every cent we will spend and every minute we will take to identify the best possible person to be our school superintendent,” said Mary Beth Sewald, president of the Vegas Chamber.
Earlier in the day, more than a dozen organizations issued a letter to the School Board requesting a national search for the next superintendent of the nation’s fifth-largest school district. You can read the full letter below.
"Dear President Garcia-Morales and Members of the Board of Trustees:
The signees of this letter represent a vast swath of Southern Nevada’s most prominent stakeholders in the areas of education, local government, business, non-profit, labor, public interest, and more. After much discussion, we write this letter in advance of the March 6, 2024, Board Meeting in which you will consider and take action on the question of whether to conduct a national or local search for the next Superintendent of the Clark County School District.
As you undoubtedly appreciate, the selection of the next Superintendent will have a major effect on the people we represent and our community at large. In fact, choosing the next Superintendent may be one of the most consequential decisions you will make for years to come.
It is critical that the best candidate is selected for the job and that they be best positioned to succeed in the role. This will occur only if they are chosen through a process that is understood and trusted by the public.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, respectfully request that you elect to do all of the following at the March 6, 2024, Board Meeting (and throughout the entire selection process):
1. Conduct a national search for candidates (inclusive of local candidates);
2. Build transparency into the process;
3. Establish a set of minimum qualifications that all candidates must meet to be considered for the position; and
4. Allow for robust community participation and buy-in as candidates are identified and advance through the process.
All of the above requests are reasonable; and all of them can be incorporated into a positive, inclusive process that is completed before the start of the next school year.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We all remain available for questions and concerns."
A national search for a new permanent superintendent could take an estimated three to six months and cost between $60,000 and $100,000, according to meeting materials.
A local or state search could take one to two months and cost anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000.
Dr. Brenda Larsen-Mitchell, who was previously deputy superintendent under Dr. Jesus Jara, is currently serving as interim superintendent. She is not excluded from applying for the permanent position.
