Garcia favorite for schools chief

Terry Webster

Thursday, March 23, 2000 | 11:15 a.m.

A rising star from California has appeared on the horizon of the Clark County School District's superintendent search, according to the Superintendent Selection Process Committee.

Committee members said the two candidates they interviewed this week were both well qualified and well received.

And although they had strong praise for Timothy Jenney, superintendent of the Virginia Beach City School District, the committee named Carlos Garcia, superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District in California, as its top choice.

But this morning the School Board voted to bring both finalists back for a second round of interviews on Friday.

A third candidate scheduled to be announced Wednesday bowed out of the running.

But Garcia was clearly the favorite of the selection committee.

"I thought he displayed an extreme amount of enthusiasm for the job," said Sig Rogich, chairman of the Superintendent Selection Process Committee and of the Rogich Communications Group. "I was very moved by his presentation."

Garcia's personality and his comments about his love of children also had a positive impact on committee member Mark Brown, executive vice president of Station Casinos.

"What really came through was his passion for the job," Brown said.

Several events are still scheduled before the School Board makes its final decision by April 6. Garcia and Jenney were to appear at a public reception today and second interviews are scheduled for Friday at KLVX Channel 10, 4210 Channel 10 Drive. The School Board also will discuss the candidates at a special meeting March 27.

That schedule did not keep members of the search committee from publicly voicing their opinions of the candidates Wednesday after first interviews with the candidates were complete.

Committee member Rod Davis, chief executive officer of St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, said he thought either candidate would be very effective.

But he also leans toward Garcia.

"I think Garcia would be better because of the diversity in our district," Davis said. "It seems that he is more of a people person."

Committee members also pointed to professional accomplishments listed on Garcia's resume.

He received the 1998 Association of California School Administrator's Diversity Award and the 1999 Association of California School Administrators Region IX Superintendent of the Year award. Garcia was one of the American Association of School Administrators nominees for national Superintendent of the Year in 1997.

Community activist Helena Garcia has spoken at many school district meetings about the need for a new superintendent who understands the Hispanic population. She also attended the committee's meeting Wednesday.

"He will understand the culture and the language," Garcia said. "When Hispanic parents talk to him, he will understand them. In order to get Hispanic parents more involved in the school district, they need a leader who will listen to them. They need someone they feel they can trust."

Allin Chandler, executive director of the Clark County Association of School Administrators, said he was happy with the committee's action.

"I'm surprised the committee was as focused as it was in terms of their agreement," he said. "But I'm pleased with the opinions they presented. Personally, I agree with them."

Terry Webster covers education for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-4091 or by e-mail at terry@lasvegassun.com.