School Board faces big list of candidates for Cram’s job

Terry Webster

Monday, Oct. 18, 1999 | 9:59 a.m.

A large pool of candidates is expressing interest in becoming the Clark County School District's next superintendent.

The depth and breadth of their experience have not yet been analyzed, said William Attea of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, an Illinois-based consulting firm the school district hired.

Sixty candidates have already expressed an interest in the position and a total of about 100 candidates are expected to apply.

"We've had as many as 80 and as few as 20," Attea said of superintendent searches his firm has conducted in other districts. "I expect we will have around 100 for this position."

When asked why he expects an above-average turnout, Attea said, "I think it's the challenge and the lure and excitement of Las Vegas."

Input from the community and the Superintendent Selection Process Committee was used to compile characteristics the district wants to see in its new superintendent. Some of the qualities are a vision for excellence, communication skills, interpersonal skills, public financial accountability, experience and knowledge of diversity issues.

As part of the interview process here, an "assessment center experience" will be used to select the finalists. During this process, candidates will be given problems to solve on the spot.

Rapid growth and how to keep ahead of it are topics candidates probably will be asked to tackle, Attea said.

The School Board has approved a base pay range starting at $170,000. Benefits and perks would be in addition to the base pay. Based on qualifications, the board may consider a salary in the $200,000 range that is comparable to salaries in other large school districts.

Another option is an incentive that would allow the superintendent to earn more money based on job performance. A list of the nation's top 10 largest districts compiled by Attea's firm shows base salaries ranging from $150,000 in Chicago to $260,000 in Dallas.

Clark County's current superintendent, Brian Cram, earns a base salary of $158,000 plus benefits and perks that make the entire package worth $241,029. Cram has announced his retirement effective next July.

The announcement of the five candidates the board will interview takes place Nov. 17, followed by interviews through Nov. 19, when the semi-finalists will be named.

Selection of the preferred candidate is expected by Dec. 3, with an appointment scheduled by Dec. 16.

The superintendent's committee on Friday also weighed whether some of the interview questions should be made known to all candidates, so that the last person interviewed does not have an unfair advantage.

Any recommendations made by the committee have to be approved by the School Board.