Former mayor and other leaders in higher ed support Rogers as next superintendent

Leaders in higher education, former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones and Danny L. Thompson, the executive secretary treasurer of the Nevada State AFL-CIO, have all written letters in support of Jim Rogers becoming the next superintendent of the Clark County School District.

Rogers is a philanthropist, businessman and former chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education who has pledged to work without compensation.

His supporters' letters were sent to the Clark County School Board and its search firm of McPherson and Jacobson. Jones praised Rogers’ “leadership abilities, no nonsense demeanor, passion and results-oriented approach” in a letter to Clark County School Board President Terri Janison.

Daniel Klaich, chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, said Rogers is “a human shield and battering ram. Jim never deflected responsibility or ran from the consequences of any action by him or any of us who have worked with him.”

Others who have written letters of support include Jane Nichols, the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for the Nevada System of Higher Education, Gerry Bomotti, the vice president for finance for University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Christopher Hudgins, dean of UNLV's College of Liberal Arts; and Christine M. Haynes, the public information program officer for the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Rogers released the letters to the Review-Journal.

The School Board has set a goal of selecting the next superintendent by October.