New schools chief vows to improve grad rate

By Emily Richmond

Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006 | 7:15 a.m.

If Walt Rulffes could unanimously win a job that he appeared to be on the verge of losing by a 4-3 vote, then maybe he will be able to also work wonders with the nation's fifth-largest school district.

That is the clear hope of the Clark County School Board, which this week selected Rulffes as the district's new superintendent after a seven-month nationwide search.

For the 65-year-old Rulffes, his selection capped a roller-coaster week in which he initially seemed to have come up short against the other finalist for the superintendent's post, New York City educator Eric Nadelstern.

The Council for a Better Nevada, a coalition of local business leaders including university system Chancellor Jim Rogers, had recruited Nadelstern and encouraged him to apply for the job. Rogers, who also is owner of Sunbelt Communications, said that he wanted to see Nadelstern in the top spot with Rulffes as his second in command.

As board members, most of whom had visited New York in recent days to learn more about Nadelstern and his educational initiatives there, prepared to make their decision this week, the New Yorker appeared to have a 4-3 vote.

But then Nadelstern surprisingly withdrew, apparently deciding that it was vital to not just win, but to win by a wide margin to indicate strong board support for some of the sweeping reforms he had in mind.

Nadelstern, an advocate of more autonomy for individual schools and less involvement by central administration in daily operations, dropped out of the race Wednesday even as some board members were flying back to Las Vegas from New York.

That left only Rulffes -- and left the board with the decision of whether to select him or to reopen its search.

During public comment at Thursday's meeting, the School Board heard from community members who favored Rulffes -- including leaders of teacher and administrator unions -- as well as individuals who encouraged a new search.

After a vote to extend the search failed 5-2, Rulffes was chosen unanimously. The School Board hopes to reach agreement on a contract with Rulffes that will run through August 2007, with salary talks starting at $290,000.

Currently the interim superintendent, Rulffes says he is looking forward to making the transition to the full-time post.

In an interview Friday, Rulffes talked about challenges facing the district as well as his plans for the future.

Q. What are your immediate goals for the students of Clark County?

A. We must increase the graduation rate.

Research shows that the main reason kids drop out is because they've failed the Nevada High School Proficiency Exam or they are credit deficient and get discouraged.

Typically our kids don't say "I'm leaving because I have a great job." That's a misconception, that they drop out because of job opportunities. The more success our kids have the first time they take that test, the more likely they are going to see it through and graduate.

The pass rate on the exam, especially the math section, has been steadily improving. Now we need to build on that success. We've found that when we apply resources in certain areas, whether it's additional online support (such as Web site tutors for the math proficiency test), intensive instruction in small group workshops, all of those things have proven to help us turn the corner on this.

Q. What challenges are looming for the district as an entity?

If we are going to get a bond measure passed by voters (in 2008), we must start developing our marketing plan now. Some of the reforms that are being discussed, such as smaller schools and smaller learning environments, would influence what we take to the voters for approval. We must also press on with finding high-quality teachers, something I consider the single most important element of whether or not our students succeed.

Q. Agustin Orci, who was deputy superintendent of instruction before being named your co-interim superintendent in July, indicated to the School Board in a letter this fall that he was withdrawing his name from consideration for the full-time job and might be looking for work outside of Clark County. Any thoughts on who might replace him if the job opens up?

A. I called Mr. Nadelstern Thursday. It was a call of professional courtesy but also to commend him for the wonderful programs he coordinates to see if he had any further interest in working for the Clark County School District. I don4t have a specific role or function in mind. There's been dialogue about him possibly providing some consulting services, and I wanted to speak with him directly. I'm willing to steal any ideas from anybody that will help our students. Having him come to Clark County in some capacity could be a rewarding opportunity for us all.

Q. You have said that you plan to retire within five years. Are you satisfied with a contract that would run through August 2007?

A. I believe I can make progress in 18 months, and we'll see where we're at then. It's legitimate to put someone in the job on a performance basis. There4s nothing wrong with expecting someone to produce.

Q. Nadelstern is said to have dropped out of the race because he didn4t want to be hired on a 4-3 vote or work for a divided School Board. What did you view as the message of the 7-0 vote you received Thursday?

A. I think the School Board didn't want someone to start off with the impression that there isn't full support, and I commend them for that.

My experience as a superintendent has told me you can4t always expect all seven board members to line up and vote yes. You need to be ready to deal with diverse opinions.

I respect differing viewpoints and appreciate hearing from all sides -- that4s how you make progress. It4s been said that search committees are looking for God on a good day. I would say this School Board was looking for a span of experience rather than one area of expertise.

Being superintendent in Clark County is not just about the bond issue or teachers or instruction or daily operations. It4s about leading in all of those areas in support of student achievement. And that4s what I plan to do.

Emily Richmond can be reached at 259-8829 or at [email protected].