LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – In less than a month the Clark County School District could have a new superintendent chosen.
However, the process has been far from smooth as several people walked out of Tuesday’s school board meeting in protest.
The search firm HYA presented CCSD trustees with its top candidates for superintendent.
Some parents and teachers left the meeting after CCSD Trustee District A Emily Stevens wanted an Air Force veteran with no leadership experience in public education as an administrator to be included as a superintendent candidate.
“For me, I would really like to see someone who has what appears to be the background and leadership capability to potentially do this job. I don’t know if he can do this job but I would like to interview him,” Stevens said.
Some teachers criticized the school board for entertaining the idea.
“This is ridiculous. Get back on course. Two and a half hours later, and I gotta leave and can’t be part of this process because ya’ll don’t know what the hell your doing,” CCSD teacher Karlana Kulseth said.
A total of 40 people applied to CCSD’s top job. HYA presented trustees with its slate of six candidates, but the firm announced before the meeting began that one of them dropped out.
Dr. Shawn Joseph of HYA said Joshua Starr, a former superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, told him he wanted to remain on the east coast.
Jhone Ebert, Pedro Martinez, and Jon Anzalone all worked in the past at CCSD in leadership roles however several trustees raised concerns with Martinez.
Martinez was fired from Chicago Public Schools which 8 News Now previously reported after refusing to take out a loan at the mayor’s request to cover the school’s $500 million deficit.
During Tuesday’s meeting, CCSD Trustee of District E Lorena Biassotti said she was concerned with Martinez’s background.
“Mr. Martinez does not fit our profile and fails to meet our standards for several reasons. He previously served as deputy superintendent for CCSD, leaving the position with a poor reputation,” she stated. “He was later terminated from roles in both Washoe County and Chicago Public Schools. CCSD is not seeking a candidate with such a record.”
Trustees voted to narrow the candidates to Jhone Ebert, Jon Anzalone, Jerry Welsh, and Ben Shuldiner.
Welsh was previously considered for the superintendent role at CCSD in 2018 before losing out to Jesus Jara, who was forced to resign last year in February.
CCSD’s school board is looking to do interviews next week after that, trustees will narrow down the pool of candidates and hold interviews on March 10 and 11.
Trustees will then vote on a new superintendent on March 13.
