LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The search for a CCSD superintendent may slow down after a trustee resigned.
While some are pushing for the timeline for a new CCSD superintendent search to continue, others are asking for the timeline to be paused while her replacement is found.
During Thursday night’s meeting, Trustee Ramona Esparza-Stoffregan asked Dr. Shawn Joseph with HYA Associates, the search firm in charge of CCSD’s search, if he thought a superintendent should be hired by the board with a trustee vacancy.
Dr. Joseph replied it would be best to have all districts represented in the vote.
“I keep hearing it over and over again in our community that there is a need to extend the timeline,” shared Trustee Lisa Guzman.
HYA Associates gave a presentation on the search status Thursday night. More than 13,000 people took part in a survey and a thousand people have taken part in focus groups. Survey groups will run through September and the original timeline for the search is to have a candidate selected by November.
“I am sure if you studied the board or CCSD. it is not uncommon for the board or community to attempt to slow walk something… my question is what do you think the potential negative impact for the candidate pool is?,” questioned Trustee Lola Brooks.
“I do think there is the potential to loose candidates by slowing down,” Dr. Joseph answered.
With the exit of Katie Williams on a board that often votes 4-3, there is concern about getting anything passed. Thursday night, a vote on a new member of the audit committee split 3- 3 and the item was put on hold. Williams absence is also a major concern for those she represents in the all-important superintendent search.
“Now a large portion of my city… the only city of color, now about half of our city has been disenfranchised by this board,” asserted non-voting Trustee Isaac Barron who was appointed to represent the interests of the City of North Las Vegas.
“Should we have every district here represented in place with this decision that we are making in your recommendation,” Ramona Esparza-Stoffregan asked Dr. Joseph.
“That is the best practice,” Dr. Joseph replied.
Why does it matter if the process is slowed down or kept on schedule? In November the election could shake up the school board in a major way. There will be at least three new board members and as many as four.
How and when will Trustee Williams be replaced? FOX5 asked CCSD that question. They did not give a timeline but shared that someone will be appointed for the remainder of her term. Williams only had about three months left. Back in 2017 when a trustee resigned to go to law school, it took several months to appoint a replacement.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.