School Board meets to decide superintendent qualifications

Terry Webster

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999 | 11:20 a.m.

In its quest to fill the top post for the nation's eighth-largest school district, the Clark County School Board Tuesday decided what qualifications the new superintendent will have.

A decision on the salary and benefits package, along with details on advertising for the position, is expected to come before the board during its next regular meeting on Oct. 14.

"We're looking for the very best," said board member Susan Brager, who expects the advertising campaign to span educational publications and other venues throughout the United States.

Brager called the chance to lead the Clark County School District an excellent opportunity for someone who has vision.

"There are just so many ways to look at it in terms of climate and growth or even coming up with a way to cure the drop-out rate," she said.

Superintendent Brian Cram, who has announced he will retire effective July 2000, earns a base salary of $158,000 plus benefits.

The school board, which ultimately decides who the superintendent will be, has enlisted the help of a search committee and has held a series of activities to get input from parents, students, staff and community members.

Criteria approved by the board ranges from an ability to address rapid growth to the development of clearly articulated challenging standards to boost student performance.

Additionally, the new superintendent will demonstrate the ability to deal with racial and socioeconomic diversity, high school drop-outs and other teen issues.

Being an excellent organizer and manager and being "honest, open and trustworthy," are other qualities that are important to the school board.