TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Pinellas Schools Job Candidate Wants To Meet With Dissenters

ADVERTISEMENT

By STEVEN GIRARDI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 11, 2008

  Alberto Carhalvo

LARGO - Whether Alberto M. Carvalho accepts the job of Pinellas County school superintendent could rest with the three board members who voted against hiring him.

Carvalho has two offers on the table: the Pinellas job, which came in a 4-3 vote Wednesday, and the Miami-Dade superintendent position, offered just hours later.

He said Wednesday he would make a decision within 72 hours, and Pinellas board members said today he asked to speak with those who opposed him.

"As far as I know, it all hinges on their responses," said board member Janet Clark, one of the four who favored hiring Carvalho. "I can't blame him. I think he does need to find out if there's going to be support for him here."

Carvalho, 43, associate superintendent in Miami-Dade, was in meetings today and not immediately available for comment, according to his office.

Linda Lerner, who voted against Carvalho, said the four-month hiring process was enough and she isn't interested in meeting again.

"We had a process. It was a very fair process," Lerner said. "It's not part of the process to start talking to any candidate again."

"He did say his heart was in Miami. I hope he takes the job there."

Lerner, Peggy O'Shea and Mary Brown voted to hire interim Superintendent Julie Janssen, a 38-year employee of the district who was a teacher and principal before becoming deputy superintendent.

O'Shea said she has not heard from Carvalho but would be willing to talk to him.

"I'll talk to anybody about anything," O'Shea said. "Mine was not so much a vote against him as much as I thought Julie Janssen is a better fit for our district right now."

She said Janssen has built strong community relations here, just as Carvalho has in Miami, "which makes him valuable to them."

She was not surprised he was offered the Miami job; the board there had been expected to buy out the contract of Superintendent Rudy Crew. Crew resigned Wednesday.

She said Carvalho needs to act quickly because Crew's last day is Friday.

"I would like to get an answer so we can move ahead," she said.

Brown could not be reached today, but like Lerner made it clear Wednesday that she wanted only Janssen.

The Pinellas board chose Carvalho over Janssen, 59, and Nicholas Gledich, 55, chief operations officer for Orange County public schools.

Should Carvalho stay in Miami, the two might have another chance, although board members would have to decide how to proceed. Board member Carol Cook said Gledich is a candidate for the Manatee County superintendent's job.

Janssen was a popular choice with some community groups, the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association and the PTA. Some warned that going outside the district would be a gamble and the choice might leave sooner.

"I think there will be a lot of 'I told you so's' " if Carvalho remains in Miami, Clark said. "But that's life."

Cook said she is not troubled that Carvalho is taking more time to decide."I would hope someone would afford me that option. These are life-changing choices," she said.Board members knew Carvalho was popular in Miami-Dade and a potential candidate to replace Crew. Carvalho began as a high school teacher in the district in 1990 and moved quickly through the administration.

When Crew offered his resignation Wednesday, the Miami-Dade board members immediately offered the job to Carvalho.

"With Rudy Crew walking out, that all fell into his lap," Cook said.

"I feel sorry we couldn't support him as an entire board. He truly is a good choice for our district," Clark said. "We just have to wait and see.''

Pinellas, the 23rd largest school district in the country with a $1.5 billion budget, has offered $200,000 to $240,000 a year for the superintendent job.

Miami-Dade is the fourth-largest school district in the nation, serving about 340,000 pupils. Salary was not discussed Wednesday, though Crew was making more than $300,000 with about $100,000 in benefits.

Reporter Steven Girardi may be reached at (727) 451-2333 or at sgirardi@tampartrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT