The move to fire Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara leaves students, parents, teachers, and administrators wondering what comes next.
Thursday’s vote by the school board left many at the meeting visibly stunned as they eyed the read-out board at the front of the room.
It listed four votes in support of the move: school board Trustees Danielle Ford, Irene Cepeda, Linda Cavazos, and Lisa Guzman.
“It wasn't so much specific decisions, it was more climate and culture; it was more attitude,” said Nevada Public Radio news producer Dave Berns, who attended the board meeting and has long been active in the public education space.
Berns said Jara’s critics frequently say “he doesn't listen to principals … and shuts down ideas. That that was a constant complaint that I've heard going back several years now.”
Jara became superintendent three years ago, as the district was in the midst of an effort to decentralize, something he apparently found to be a poor fit.
“In many ways, he was the counter to that decentralization. He really tended to centralize power within the district,” Berns said.
Jara, who earns $320,000 a year, remains on the job for the next month. The school board has yet to announce what the job search process will look like.
Three board members voted to retain Jara: Lola Brooks, Katie Williams, and Evelyn Garcia Morales.
Also at Thursday’s meeting trustees deferred any action on removing board President Linda Cavazos, who has feuded with other trustees and presided over several contentious meetings.
Dave Berns, producer, Nevada Public Radio
