LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Clark County School District released a timeline on when it will hire its next superintendent, a process that was postponed last year due to “instability on the school board.”
According to documents posted on CCSD’s website, the district’s board of trustees is scheduled to pick its new superintendent in late March. An actual start date for the search wasn’t stated.
In the meantime, parents have their opinions on what they want in a new leader.
“I don’t feel the level of education in Nevada is good enough, be it with CCSD or what the state has done,” Leonard Lither said. He has two children in CCSD and was also a teacher in the district up until this year.
“Number one, I think, is safety,” Lither said of his top priority in a superintendent candidate.
The first round of interviews with superintendent candidates will be Feb. 25, according to the district. Two days later, the school board will pick its favorites to advance.
The second round of interviews will take place on March 10 and March 13 the school board will narrow it down to two finalists. Then March 24, these finalists will participate in a community town hall where the public can ask questions.
On March 27, a superintendent will be named.
“I want someone who is going to come in here and say, ‘Look at our math proficiency rates, our English proficiency rates, excessive absenteeism. All of these things are not good numbers, let’s actually make a game plan and then go forward,'” Lither said.
At Wednesday’s State of the Schools event, CCSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Brenda Larsen-Mitchell said 40% of third graders are proficient in reading.
Larsen-Mitchell also acknowledged she isn’t applying for the job.
“I grew up here. I love this district and I’m looking forward to the district seeing a fresh start, and I have full confidence and faith in the board of trustees,” Larsen-Mitchell said.
CCSD Board President Irene Bustamante Adams spoke to 8 News Now in an exclusive interview and shared insight into the hiring process.
“Very collective involvement to choose the next leader because education affects workforce development and economic development. So without the three in alignment, we’re not setting ourselves up for success,” Bustamante Adams said.
The deadline to apply for the job of CCSD superintendent is Wednesday, Feb. 5.
CCSD has been without a superintendent since February 2024 when Dr. Jesus Jara was forced out. When the school board voted to hire him in 2018, the vote among trustees was 4-3. Ideally, new hires want a unanimous vote from the board.
