Search for Cram successor to begin

Retired U.S. Army generals and big-business CEOs should be considered for the job of running the Clark County School District.

That's one suggestion made by members of the committee overseeing the search for a new superintendent. The committee held its first meeting Thursday.

Committee members want to make sure state law allows them to consider more than just "any person licensed for the position of administrator" in Nevada, as the law is currently written.

Members said they would encourage lawmakers to change the law if necessary.

Superintendent Brian Cram, schools chief since 1989, announced last March that he will step down in July 2000. The School Board is ultimately responsible for replacing him.

Each member of the seven-member School Board appointed one person to the Superintendent Selection Committee, which on Thursday named advertising executive and political consultant Sig Rogich as chairman.

"I think this is one of the most important things I've ever done," Rogich said.

Other committee members: Mark Brown, senior vice president with the Howard Hughes Corp.; Cheryl Routh, trustee with D.A.R.E. Inc. of Nevada; Orlando Sandoval, associate vice president for planning and campus sites with the Community College of Southern Nevada; Arthur Williams Jr., attorney; County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury and Terry Wright, a Nevada Title Co. executive.

The committee is charged with finding a replacement for Cram in the next 12 to 15 months. Members plan to hire a national head-hunting firm to help the committee find the best candidate.

The committee discussed working "hand-in-hand" with a head-hunting firm, which may include helping the firm narrow down a list of finalists.

Ultimately, however, the elected School Board will make the final decision.

Cram will make $158,859 this year. Committee members discussed finding businesses who were willing to supplement the district pay, to better attract top candidates.

The committee also discussed at what point they would make public the names of the finalists. Members said they do not want to scare away job candidates who would not apply if their names were made public.

"The people we are looking for may not be looking for jobs. They may be in good districts now," School Board President Ruth Johnson said. "If we make their names public too soon, they may choose not to participate."

The committee's meetings are open to the public. The next meeting is 9 a.m. Thursday, at 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, 17th floor.

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