CCSD Decides To Pay Superindendent Jara To Resign Thursday
If you have watched a CCSD Board of Trustees meeting, you know they have been wild lately. Scandal, yelling, intrigue and backroom deals. It has all come to a head recently with embattled Clark County School District Superintendent Dr. Jesus F. Jara and his decision to resign. His calling it quits comes with caveats, and educators and parents alike are watching carefully and making their voices heard.
Between expensive and fruitless travel to fancy destinations to find new teachers, to withholding video of arguably unconstitutional arrests at Durango High School, to overseeing a long and drawn out negotiation with the teacher’s union, to allowing the district to appeal a $5000 settlement to a kid that had an embarrassing picture published in the school yearbook, to the death of Rancho High School student Jonathan Lewis. It seems like things are constantly in havoc during Jara’s tenure, and that’s before looking at slacking test scores. Needless to say, many in the community have been happy to see he’d go.
Jesus Jara Said He’d Resign… For A Price
Unfortunately, Jara’s offer to leave didn’t come without a price tag attached. He requested an amendment to his contract to allow him to receive one year’s salary and benefits, around half a million dollars, to step aside and let the district move on. At a Board of Trustees meeting earlier this month, the audience was packed with concerned parents and teachers who overwhelmingly were in favor of Jara leaving, but not in favor of paying him to do so.
The board narrowly denied Jara’s request. On Thursday, February 22nd, the board once again convenes to discuss another plan of action. The haggle officially begins. Instead of a year’s salary and benefits, the board will decide if they will approve half a year’s salary and benefits: $250,000. If it goes through, his last day on the job will be this Friday.
There are some that want to see him walk away from his contract, due to end in June 2026, without a penny. That appears to be unlikely to happen. If the board denies this motion, there is a chance it becomes a legal fight which could result in a potentially higher cost to the district.
All eyes are on the board meeting, which should be lively and live-streamed on YouTube.