LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — It has been one week since Supt. Dr. Jesus Jara was fired and trustees could not make a decision on a process for naming an interim superintendent.
The board eventually came to a disagreement over what to do before the meeting was abruptly ended Thursday night in a 6-1 vote.
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"We leave our board meeting with our elected officials who have decided to not come up with a process, or vote collectively on a process, so we're actually at square one," said Kamilah Bywaters, president of the Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators.
She says she was disheartened to not see a decision and wants a process that involves members of the public.
"The community has been asking to be part of the process of being able to evaluate and ask who will be the interim," said Bywaters.
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Some say they want to solicit interested people for the interim job.
"I heard transparency loud and clear from everyone that spoke on this," said President Linda Cavazos. "They may have used different words, but this needs to be transparent."
During the meeting, trustees were in relative agreement to have someone chosen by Nov. 18 and not have the interim superintendent be a candidate for the permanent job. But that was voted down.
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Some trustees believed the board should follow a policy for emergencies, appointing a person the superintendent named.
Bywaters says she doesn't want to see someone from the district's executive board get the interim job and wants to see a fresh start. She says the board's decision not to move forward tonight was frustrating and ultimately hopes trustees figure it out.
"At the end of the day, this is about our students and doing what we can do to improve our low-performing district."
Towards the end of the meeting, the trustees listened to more public comments and Trustee Cavazos gave an apology for the behavior on the board. She briefly said she adjourned the meeting to give the community an opportunity for input in the interim search process but didn't go on after being warned by the board attorney she was violating open meeting laws.
This issue will likely be discussed at the next board meeting on Nov. 18.
