Appraisal of candidates under way
When Colorado Education Commissioner Dwight D. Jones interviewed as a Clark County School District superintendent finalist on Thursday, School Board member Linda Young asked if he had talked to “people in our community to learn about our school district.”
Young wanted to know whether Jones had spoken with anyone about the job before last week’s interview.
Jones named two people, Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Keith Rheault and an official from Edison Learning, Laverne White. But he did not mention that he had twice visited Las Vegas, once between June 28 and July 1 and again in late August, and discussed the job with people from the community.
Cisco Aguilar, corporate counsel for the Agassi Foundation, said he had lunch with Jones in late August to discuss local education and policy issues. At the time, Aguilar said he was not representing the Agassi Foundation, which supports the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a public charter school. Aguilar said he was helping to answer Jones’ questions before the Sept. 1 deadline for applying as a candidate for the district superintendency.
According to Jones’ telephone records posted on the Colorado Department of Education website, Jones made phone calls from Las Vegas in late June.
Through spokesman Mark Stevens of the Colorado Department of Education, Jones clarified to the Review-Journal that he was in Las Vegas on vacation in late June.
At the time, Stevens said that Jones was unaware of the opportunity to succeed Walt Rulffes as the superintendent of the nation’s fifth-largest school district with 309,000 students. Rulffes announced his intention to retire in March.
Jones’ phone records do not show him making local calls. He called Colorado numbers while in Las Vegas.
Stevens responded to the Review-Journal’s questions because Jones was visiting rural school districts in Colorado on Monday.
Young said she has no problem with Jones meeting with anybody or any group but wanted to know specifics for the sake of transparency.
Some district staffers told the Review-Journal they have received phone calls from national education organizations indicating that a local group, Council for a Better Nevada, had been checking out Jones as a superintendent candidate.
During the district’s superintendent search in 2005, the Council for a Better Nevada was active in promoting finalist Eric Nadelstern of New York City public schools before he dropped out. Rulffes ultimately accepted the job.
The council also has advocated education changes such as empowerment schools.
Maureen Peckman, executive director of the Council for a Better Nevada, said she had no comment beyond being impressed with both finalists, Jones and Michael Hinojosa, superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District.
Hinojosa openly said he visited Las Vegas in August because of his interest in the job.
Young and School Board member Deanna Wright were in Dallas on Monday to vet Hinojosa and speak with those who have worked with him.
They plan to report their findings Wednesday before the School Board votes on who will be the next superintendent.
In a telephone interview Monday, Wright said they were getting a “well-rounded picture” of Hinojosa, but there “were no bombs.”
During a lunch discussion at a restaurant called Truluck’s, Dallas board member Edwin Flores said they “commiserated as trustees” over the common issues facing public education.
Dallas board member Lew Blackburn said he would be surprised if Hinojosa is not selected or if Hinojosa turns down the job.
Wright and Young are in Denver today to talk with people about Jones.
Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-374-7917.