Rancho students turn out to support fired counselor

Terry Webster

Friday, Sept. 29, 2000 | 10:58 a.m.

Rancho High School students are upset over the firing of a counselor who they say encouraged them to excel in school and overcome personal obstacles.

Students gave emotional testimony before the Clark County School Board Thursday, then said they felt like the district brushed them off.

Filling the seats and lining the aisles of the 200-person capacity board room, parents and students called for the reinstatement of counselor Carlos Ezeta, who was fired earlier this month. Ezeta did not attend the meeting.

This morning, Ezeta, who had been with the school district for three years, said he was fired for not passing a required state licensing exam. "I'm not blaming anybody but myself," he said.

Ezeta, who has 10 years of experience, said counselors are required to pass the test within three years of going to work in Nevada. He said he recently took the exam again and hopes to resume his counseling career.

Students said Ezeta, who continues to attend sporting events and other activities, was a vital part of their school.

They didn't get any promises from school officials, however, who said they can't publicly discuss personnel matters.

Superintendent Carlos Garcia told the students the district has to follow state laws when dealing with personnel matters.

Then he said he wants the students to ask him to come to their school instead of airing concerns at board meetings.

After the meeting, a student said, "The rest of the administration has Garcia in an incubator and he doesn't know what's going on."

During the packed meeting, School Board President Mary Beth Scow and member Ruth Johnson moved to swiftly end the discussion. Eight people signed up to speak at the meeting in support of Ezeta. Others said they were there for support

One of the speakers, student Mariana Kihuen, said she had petitions signed by approximately 700 students and parents who want Ezeta back.

Kihuen said Ezeta's bilingual skills are "indispensable to the hundreds of student immigrants at Rancho who come to us without knowing the English language."

"In times of crisis," Kihuen said, "he is there for students and family. In times of tragedy, he is the first to come to the survivors.

"Mr. Ezeta has no hidden agendas. He works to help students accomplish their dreams. This is a rare attribute because too many professionals build monuments to themselves."

Rancho High School has one of the largest Hispanic student populations and one of the highest dropout rates in the district, the nation's sixth largest.

Some of the students cried when they talked about Ezeta. One became so distraught she could not continue after stepping before the board.

"I appreciate the heartfelt experiences you shared this evening," Johnson said. "But I don't know that you need to convince us anymore that you care a great deal. I think the message has been very clear."

Sarai Tutierrez, a 1999 Rancho graduate, asked the board to create another position.

"His continuous and unconditional support gave me the courage and motivation to overcome the death of my father, successfully complete my high school requirements and obtain my high school diploma," Tutierrez said.