The CCSD Board of School Trustees attended a meeting on February 7th, 2024, to discuss Superintendent Jesus Jara’s resignation payout. Superintendent Jara had tendered his resignation to the board on January 30th, 2024, specifying that his tenure would conclude on February 21st.
As per their agreement, according to KTNV, he would be entitled to “all pay and benefits accrued under the Employment Agreement.”
Kenny Belknap, a Social Studies Teacher at Liberty High School, stated, “instead of throwing good money after bad at the superintendent, CCSD can keep these desperately needed positions, in some schools, to support students In crisis. I urge you, do the right thing tonight, reject this corrupt deal for what it is: to buy out an ineffective leader and install his hand picked replacement. Fire him for cause, install an interim and begin a process that is transparent and evolves the community you serve. You have the opportunity tonight to do something Jara and his administration have never done in his ten years, put kids first.”
Jara’s potential payout, valued at $395,000, would have been equivalent to a year’s salary. Trustee Cavazos argues that Jara’s resignation should be viewed as a demand rather than a conditional resignation. However, three trustees who proposed agenda items did not gain full board approval, leading to uncertainties regarding the classification as severance.
Superintendent Jara never included his reason for departure, however, many board members had expressed that they would accept his resignation without the payout. In fact, the board had terminated Jara’s contract in 2021 for convenience, but weeks later the termination was invalid because a board member had changed her vote.
“He is now as he always has been looking out for himself at the cost of the children,” Belknap had expressed.
Concerns about Jara’s leadership were voiced, referencing incidents such as a campus police officer’s forceful encounter with a student in February 2023, which lacked public disclosure. Moreover, Jara’s handling of social media conflicts and the cyberattack incident added to criticisms of his leadership capabilities.
A public commenter had said, “this deal is an embodiment of everything wrong in our district under the current leadership of Superintendent Jara.”
Jesus Jara will remain as Superintendent until a future vote is presented on Board Counsel and negotiations regarding a compensation plan is presented. In addition, Jara’s contract doesn’t expire until June 30th, 2026.
The Board Meeting on February 7th considered both resignation and termination options but a preference wasn’t indicated. Although, it is a harsh reality when low student achievement, violence in schools, and high teacher vacancies have been presented in recent years. Superintendent Jesus Jara has been in his position since June 2018, almost six years.
The controversy surrounding Superintendent Jesus Jara’s resignation payout reveals tensions within the CCSD Board of School Trustees. The conflicting perspectives on his leadership and handling of his resignation highlighted broader challenges facing the district, from student safety to administrative accountability. Moving forward, hopefully, the board will handle complexities with transparency and a commitment to improve educational outcomes for all students.
