Rulffes offers to stay in post until 2011, take pay cut

It's an offer the Clark County School District might not be able to refuse.

Superintendent Walt Rulffes has proposed to stay in his position until Jan. 4, while taking a 20 percent pay cut. Originally, he wanted to be gone by Aug. 13. Rulffes has been the head of Clark County public schools for five years.

The school board will discuss the proposal at its Wednesday work session.

"I think we would be foolish not to accept his offer," said Terri Janison, school board president. "He couldn't have given the district a better gift. It keeps continuity through the rest of the school year."

Rulffes' proposal also includes a 30-day termination clause, which Janison said gives the board leeway within the superintendent search.

"What I like about it is if we find the superintendent we want in October, and the person decides they can start earlier than January, (Rulffes) can give us 30 days' notice," Janison said.

In June, Jim Rogers, Las Vegas businessman and chancellor emeritus of the state's higher education system, offered to do the job for free until July 2013.