The Clark County School District’s incoming superintendent, Jesus Jara, will receive a $320,000 annual salary and up to $10,000 to defray moving costs.

Those are some of the terms laid out in a three-year employment agreement approved Thursday by a divided School Board of Trustees, solidifying Jara’s hire with the nation’s fifth-largest district. Jara most recently served as deputy superintendent of Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Florida.

He’ll start his new job June 19, providing some overlap between his entry and current Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky’s exit. Skorkowsky retires June 29.

Jara’s salary, which the board set in February, is higher than the $280,788 Skorkowsky is making this year. At the urging of Ray and Associates — the Iowa-based firm conducting the national superintendent search — the trustees agreed to a heftier salary to be more competitive in attracting candidates.

The contract approval, however, came after a split vote. Trustees Linda Young, Chris Garvey and Kevin Child expressed unease about the contract length. They advocated for a shorter initial contract, which would have forced Jara to prove his chops quicker.

“It’s about achievement, especially when we have a budget crisis,” said Child, who voted in favor of hiring Jara earlier this month. “I’m really sorry. I can’t do this. I want him to come. I hope he can work out. I just can’t support a (three-year contract). I can go with two but not three.”

Young, whose district includes West Las Vegas, reiterated her constituents’ dissatisfaction with how the search process played out. She had favored hiring the district’s chief academic officer, Mike Barton, who had received a groundswell of support from her community members.

“This community and the community I represent have been hurt and harmed by the superintendent search process, and there are some gaping, open wounds,” she said. “I don’t expect this hurt to go away quickly.”

Other board members called for a unified front in approving the contract — a request that ultimately went unheeded.

“If we don’t pull together for our district, we’re going to remain stuck, and we’re going to remain divided,” Trustee Linda Cavazos said. “I think that we have to move forward with this vote.”

Jara’s transition to the top role comes at a precarious time for the district. Schools submitted revised budgets earlier this week — many of which involved slashing positions — to overcome a new budget deficit. It’s the second one in less than a year.

Skorkowsky sent a memo to principals last week announcing a $68 million deficit, which district officials tied to a recent arbitration decision that would award pay raises for teachers. The situation has plunged teacher morale lower as schools grapple with the budget cuts.

Jessica Malesky, an English teacher at Liberty High School, teared up as she spoke Thursday night about the latest budget shortfall and related cuts.

“Less money will eventually result in less academic growth and achievement,” she said.

The challenging environment that awaits Jara doesn’t seem to deter him, though. Shortly after the board voted, he posted the following message on Twitter:

“I am excited that the Board of Trustees ratified my contract tonight. I look forward to the transition so we can accelerate the work being done for the children of Clark County.”

Other elements of his contract include a $700-per-month vehicle allowance and, based on his yearly evaluation by the board, a possible performance bonus worth up to 5 percent of his salary. Jara’s employment agreement runs through June 2021 unless the board gives him written notice by the last business day of February in each of those years.

 

  Jara Contract by Jackie Valley on Scribd