Rogers scorns schools officials

Harshly criticizing the people positioned to hire you seems like a self-defeating approach to take for someone who wants to be the next superintendent of the Clark County School District.

But in two letters to Clark County School Board Vice President Carolyn Edwards, the former chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education who has offered to succeed retiring Superintendent Walt Rulffes does just that. Jim Rogers is concerned that the superintendent search process has been set up in favor of a weak candidate, possibly from within the district.

"I shudder at the thought of a milk toast (sic) being put in the job," Rogers wrote in an Aug. 30 letter obtained by the Review-Journal.

Rogers also compared Edwards to Queen Elizabeth I in her approach to board power and public speakers, writing Aug. 23 that "I have concluded that you believe you were elected to rule rather than to serve."

Edwards wasn't the only one singled out for criticism by Rogers, who claimed that Rulffes is a figurehead who takes "his marching orders" from subordinate Joyce Haldeman, the district's associate superintendent for community and government relations. He also accused Haldeman, who lobbies lawmakers, of having in 2009 "scuttled" a deal in the Legislature that had been reached between officials for higher education and K-12 education.

Rogers' remarks drew a minimal response from those he singled out.

Haldeman said she was not aware of the context for Rogers' claim that she is the real leader of the district, or the "superintendent, in substance," as Rogers wrote.

Edwards said she did not want to comment because of Rogers' status as a superintendent candidate.

The School Board plans to announce the names of three finalists at 3 p.m. Sept. 16, an hour before its regular board meeting. It plans to invite the three finalists to Las Vegas for interviews and meetings with the public, district employees, and business and community groups.

The board's goal is to select a superintendent in October.

Rogers, who has offered to take the job without pay, wrote that he's not "out to win a popularity contest" and wants to change the "circle the wagons" mentality of district officials.

"Much of what I do may not be politically correct, but I believe it will help effect needed change," Rogers wrote.

Rogers also said that he is well aware that people within the district are not enthusiastic about his candidacy.

In his Aug. 30 letter, Rogers includes an e-mail from Maureen Peckman, the executive director of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, to the officers of the Public Education Foundation, which raises money for the district. In the e-mail, Peckman wrote that three district staffers and one School Board member called her to say they were upset about the "lobbying" effort for Rogers.

"Not sure the foundation wants to be involved in this (lobbying for Rogers)," Peckman advised the foundation.

Peckman, who also represents the concerned citizens group Council for a Better Nevada, told the Review-Journal she was only trying to make the foundation aware of what was going on. Peckman is not necessarily opposed to Rogers becoming superintendent but is waiting to learn who the finalists are.

While Rogers believes the community deserves collective blame for letting public education fail in Southern Nevada, he told Edwards in the Aug. 30 letter that "back room discussions, ... petty power plays and empire building in many areas of your System will prevent any superintendent from doing his or her job to repair the great damage your board has caused the System."

The School Board has been advised by their legal counsel, Deputy District Attorney Mark Wood, not to open e-mail from Rogers, said School Board President Terri Janison. All correspondence from superintendent candidates is to go to the board's search firm, Nebraska-based McPherson & Jacobson.

Janison has abstained from voting on matters related to the superintendent search because Rogers owns KSNV-TV, Channel 3, the station that employs her husband, Kevin Janison, as a weatherman.

Edwards did say that she has a different recollection of her April 15 conversation with Rogers, which was the basis for much of his criticism.

Rogers said Edwards gave him the impression that Janison and Edwards had anointed themselves as "the sole leaders" of the district since they decided between themselves that Edwards should succeed Janison as the next board president.

He also criticized Edwards for being duplicitous because she had blamed the Council for a Better Nevada for interfering with the superintendent search that led to the selection of Rulffes. However, this same organization was invited by the School Board to participate in a press conference for the current superintendent search.

Rogers also was offended by Edwards' remarks to Kevinn Donovan, a public speaker at an April 22 board meeting. She told Donovan to "wrap it up" because "you're disrupting our meeting."

"It's the public's meeting," Rogers reminded Edwards. "The public is not there to cheer you to victory."

Edwards said the public should watch a tape of the meeting before making any judgments.

Donovan has publicly supported Rogers for superintendent.

Ken Small is challenging Edwards for re-election in the southwest valley's District F. He said "every word" of Rogers' criticism is "well-deserved."

"This is how parents are treated (by the board)," Small said. "Then they criticize parents for not being interested."

In an e-mail to the Review-Journal, Rulffes said he has enjoyed a "professional and personal friendship" over the past several years with Rogers, but that "our leadership approaches are different."

Rulffes said the district has always cooperated with higher education advocates during legislative sessions.

But in his Aug. 30 letter, Rogers quoted Dan Klaich, the current chancellor of higher education who was formerly the executive vice chancellor, as telling him during the 2009 legislative session that Haldeman, the district's lobbyist, is "totally scuttling" a deal that had been reached between higher education and K-12 education advocates.

Klaich was so taken aback by Haldeman that he is quoted by Rogers as having said "... What in the hell is going on?"

Haldeman, however, said she was not aware of any deal being "scuttled" in a legislative session. She said she enjoys "an excellent working relationship" with Klaich.

When asked for comment, Klaich responded, "I think that Jim's letter speaks for itself and I would not want to comment further regarding conversations on legislative discussions or strategy that I considered confidential. I value my working relationships with the Clark County School District and I will continue to work with the district and all of its officers to ensure the most effective and efficient use of tax dollars and the best results for Nevada's students in our public schools, colleges and universities."

As a member of Rulffes' executive Cabinet, Haldeman said she never hesitated to give him advice. "I will miss his leadership and direction when he is gone because he has always guided my actions, especially during legislative sessions," she said.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-374-7917.