A day after one of their own was unceremoniously unseated, Miami-Dade School Board members politely hinted that Superintendent Rudy Crew's departure from the district would likely be imminent. The prediction came from even those solidly in his camp. Gone with School Board member Evelyn Greer, most likely, is Crew's majority backing.

Board Chairman Agustín Barrera, another of Crew's supporters, said he believed it was a matter of time before Crew left Miami.

''I don't know when,'' Barrera said. ``It could be six months. It could be a year. It could be 30 days. I think he's very frustrated.''

Vice Chairwoman Perla Tabares Hantman said she, too, believed Crew's tenure would soon end -- by his or the board's wish. She said she planned to meet with Crew and suggest he leave on his own accord.

''I think with a new board, things may change,'' said Hantman, who voted to fire Crew earlier this month.

On Tuesday, retired principal Larry Feldman soundly defeated Greer, beating her by 2,245 votes. With financial backing from the United Teachers of Dade, he managed to outspend her, too.

Feldman, 55, held his first news conference Wednesday -- and continued to be coy about whether he'll join board members pushing for Crew's ouster. ''The superintendent has some excellent qualities,'' Feldman said. ``The superintendent has some challenges.''

Observers say Feldman could become the fifth member of a new majority that would vote on issues against the superintendent -- including the question of his firing. But Feldman will not take office until November. By then, Crew could have found other employment.

Crew remained mum on his future plans, but in an e-mail to The Miami Herald Wednesday, he praised Greer for her work. When Greer was the mayor of Pinecrest, she was among a group of community leaders who chose Crew for Miami-Dade.

Crew said Greer had been ``a solid, productive member of this School Board in every way from her intellect and judgment to her focus on efficiencies and children.''

Still in political circles, the story of the day was how Feldman had managed to overcome an incumbent as powerful as Greer.

''There was a perfect storm against her,'' said pollster Dario Moreno. But others said Greer had alienated supporters. On the dais, Greer's demeanor was sometimes seen as dismissive.

In a strange twist, Greer was among the board members who first attracted public attention to Feldman.

Six months ago, Feldman was relatively unknown outside of education circles. He was close to retiring as principal of Devon Aire K-8 Center and made an offer to the district: He would work for another year for only $1.

At a School Board committee meeting, Greer implored her colleagues to consider Feldman's offer. The board ultimately declined for payroll reasons.

Their paths didn't cross again until June, when Feldman decided to run.

At the time, Greer was considered one of the most influential members of the School Board. A self-made millionaire, she was a member of the powerful majority voting bloc, and a close ally of the superintendent.

Greer had come to the School Board after serving two terms as Pinecrest's mayor, which she had helped found in the mid-1990s. She seemed unbeatable. But Feldman launched a grass-roots campaign, and built on the momentum he had gained when the media coined him the $1-a-year principal.

Feldman and Greer stood sharply divided over two major issues. Feldman said he supported bringing new leadership to the district while she didn't.

They also clashed on the raises that had been promised to teachers and other employees, but withheld. Greer voted against the pay increases, saying they would mean layoffs. Feldman said the raises should be paid.

Greer's ties to Crew appeared to hurt her. ''I felt like Ms. Greer was representing Rudy Crew's interest and not the city of Homestead's interest,'' Homestead Mayor Lynda Bell said.

The key endorsement came from the teachers' union, which wholeheartedly threw its support -- and at least $91,000 -- to Feldman.

As the summer progressed, Greer's campaign started losing steam. She took ill and wasn't able to campaign, she said.

Feldman said the race pitted a ''politician versus an educator'' -- and the latter won. ''The community was tired of the politicians not understanding the needs of the teachers,'' he said.

Miami Herald staff writers Rob Barry, Rebecca Dellagloria and Matthew I. Pinzur contributed to this report.

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