Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 | 2 a.m.
Rancho High School’s organizational team is using what it believes to be an expanded right under state law to ensure the campus community gets a say in the appointment of its new principal.
Abraham Camejo, a member of the organizational team and a Rancho graduate, gathered not just other members of the team but students, parents and community members at the school for feedback on a new leader who can take Rancho to the next level after the retirement of its previous principal.
Feedback on principal selection is specifically extended to the school organizational team under Nevada’s school reorganization law. Assembly Bill 469, which passed the Nevada Legislature in 2017 and only affects CCSD, created school organizational teams as part of a local-control model that vests many operational decisions with principals instead of central administration.
The law, which was an alternative to breaking up the massive district, gives organizational teams more authority than boosterlike PTAs.
They provide assistance and advice to principals on the development and implementation of the school’s plan of operation, and when the principal’s seat is vacant, the team is to assist with the selection of a replacement.
To do this, the law says, the team will establish a list of desirable qualifications and submit it to the superintendent. The superintendent must give the team a list of three to five candidates, one of which the team recommends. One team member must be allowed to participate in interviewing candidates.
Although the superintendent interviews qualified candidates and has ultimate discretion over the hiring, the organizational team must be part of the hiring process.
Camejo said the town hall this week, which was attended by about 25 community members and gave a voice beyond the 10-member organizational team, was the first he knows of to weigh in on a CCSD principal hiring.
Fernando Romero, who is also on the organizational team, said at the town hall that he doesn’t want Rancho’s new principal “dictated” to the campus. Romero, a one-time School Board candidate, had compliance with the reorganization law as part of his platform when he ran in 2022.
As of Friday, the job at Rancho was one of three open principal positions posted to the district’s human resources recruiting website. Triggs and Hancock elementary schools are also looking for leaders.
Rancho’s new hire will succeed Darlin Delgado, who led the North Las Vegas school for the last four years of her 29 years with CCSD. She retired Jan. 12 to spend more time with family, she said in a letter to families posted to the school website.
“Our outstanding teachers and staff will continue providing our students with excellent teaching and learning opportunities; they will keep our school moving forward,” she wrote. “We will continue our mission of preparing ALL students for college, career, life, and beyond with an inclusive and safe school environment for all students and staff.”
Rancho is one of CCSD’s largest and oldest schools, socially and economically diverse and featuring magnet programs in aviation and medical studies in addition to serving as a neighborhood school just north of downtown Las Vegas. Its alumni include Gov. Joe Lombardo, other politicians, and professional athletes including former UNLV and NBA star Greg Anthony.
It’s also recovering from a major trauma — the fatal beating of a student in an alley just off campus in November. The student, 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis Jr., died in a hospital nearly a week after a mob of schoolmates allegedly beat, kicked and stomped him, reportedly after a dispute over earphones and a vape pen. Four teens, ages 16 and 17, are being charged as adults with second-degree murder. Five additional teenagers are in the juvenile justice system on charges related to the death, and another young suspect remains outstanding.
‘The right heart’
Social studies teacher Sebastian Cardenas said he wants a principal with compassion and cultural competency.
“Our principal needs to have the right heart for our students,” he said at the town hall. “Our principal needs to be someone that tells them that they’re worthy of their dreams, that grabs every opportunity possible for them, and provides the love and support the students need.”
One student said she wants empathy and recognition for students and staff. Another student suggested more emphasis on girls’ sports. Another wanted better communication, community engagement, after-school safety and curriculum knowledge.
Camejo put out an online survey to narrow down the top characteristics of a new principal. The top one was strong communication skills, followed by collaborative style and fostering a positive school culture; high school administration experience; taking a student-centered approach; sound decision-making; and vision and planning ability.
Camejo asks a simple guiding question: “What kind of principal are we looking for?”
He said he doesn’t want to snarl the process of selecting a new principal, just allow the breathing room to give enough input.
[email protected] / 702-990-8959 / @HillaryLVSun
