School chief to be named in April

Terry Webster

Wednesday, March 8, 2000 | 11:10 a.m.

After smoothing out a few scheduling changes -- and ruffled feathers -- the Clark County School Board decided it will be able to name a new superintendent by April 6.

School Board members said they were miffed at getting a 24-hour notice from superintendent search consultant William Attea that the interview schedule they planned two months ago fell through.

Attea said he had two candidates to present to the School Board on Tuesday, but 18 more hopefuls surfaced last weekend during an American Association of School Administrators conference in San Diego.

"At the conference, we did identify people who we feel warrant further investigation, possible interviewing and review before we would narrow it down again to bring you a slate," Attea said. "Some of these people are very strong. They are highly successful superintendents in urban districts across the country."

The pool includes both traditional and nontraditional candidates.

In the end, the board decided a chance at getting the best possible candidate was more important than sticking to a schedule.

Instead of starting interviews today, the board scheduled a "progress" meeting with Attea for March 15, followed by the announcement of two candidates on March 20. Interviews will take place March 21 or March 22, and a new superintendent could be named on April 6.

"My frustration comes in because last December or January, we set this calendar forth," Sheila Moulton, the School Board clerk, said. "I have a hesitancy in slowing down the process. But I'm getting a gut feeling of questioning the quality of individuals who would be presented tonight."

Her concerns were echoed by board member Ruth Johnson.

"We held our schedules open to be able to do this. Then after the whole thing is over with, we're told we need to bump things," she told Attea.

Johnson then said Attea should have notified the board earlier that he needed more time.

Susan Brager, vice president, said she wondered whether Attea will ask for another extension.

"At what point in time do you actually stop the search, give us the slate of candidates and not say, 'Now I've found one more,' and we keep going through this process," she said.

Attea said there isn't a definitive point; candidates could keep coming forward.

Later in the meeting Attea said the two candidates he has already identified could wind up being the final slate he presents if it's determined they are still the best candidates.

The extension, Attea said, allows him to keep his pledge to find the best possible people and check their backgrounds. He also said it is his job to keep the board informed of new candidates who come up.

No additional candidates cropped up during the first set of interviews, which started in November and ran through December. The board rejected three of those five candidates and two others dropped out.

Meanwhile, board members are starting to consider other options.

Shirley Barber wants to discuss the possibility of interim candidates.

"Before we get into rushing again, I'd like to see how the board feels about going with an interim for a while," Barber said. The matter was deferred to an upcoming meeting.

Johnson pointed out that the national market is highly competitive, with many other large urban school districts competing for superintendents.

"I have to question why we are trying to compete in a market like that, without truly saying we have identified everyone locally who might be qualified," Johnson said. "We should consider them because they are not a part of that competition."

Attea said he believes Clark County has not developed people internally who have comprehensive experience in school district management.

"A number of people here have the potential to do that. They just haven't been groomed for it," he said.

The current superintendent, Brian Cram, retires in July. Cram has agreed to stay on for a short time, if needed.