The Miami-Dade School Board ''violated the principles of fairness and transparency'' when it selected new Superintendent Alberto Carvalho last month, a School Board ethics committee said Wednesday.

Despite the stinging statement, the board's Ethics Advisory Committee stopped short of recommending that the board reconsider its pick -- instead advising the panel to create a process for selecting a superintendent.

It's unclear whether the opinion will carry any weight on Friday, when the School Board will take up a proposed $275,000-a-year contract for Carvalho, an 18-year district veteran whose credibility has been questioned after e-mails surfaced purporting to show he had a romantic relationship with a former Miami Herald reporter.

The School Board named Carvalho to the district's top job on Sept. 10, just hours after it negotiated a $368,000 buyout with former schools chief Rudy Crew. There was no formal application or vetting process; board members nominated a handful of candidates from the dais.

Many in the audience -- and some School Board members themselves -- were surprised to see the board move forward with a vote.

The ethics committee, made up of seven independent members, cannot force the School Board to do anything.

Several board members on Wednesday said the opinion wouldn't affect how they'd vote on the contract.

''I appreciate [the committee's] involvement, but we've already determined that the selection process was done legally and properly,'' said board member Wilbert ''Tee'' Holloway, a Carvalho supporter.

Board member Martin Karp said he, too, respected the committee's opinion, but that his larger concern was bringing stability to the district.

''It's important that we not have uncertainty,'' he said. ``There needs to be leadership in this district. I think that is the overriding concern for me.''

The ethics committee's opinion came after parent Charles Viscito complained about the way in which Carvalho was selected.

`VERY CHAOTIC'

At least one School Board member acknowledged that she wasn't prepared to appoint Carvalho last month.

''It was very chaotic because people didn't know this was going to occur,'' said Marta Pérez, the only board member who attended the ethics meeting. ``We really didn't have the opportunity to look at résumés, or even to look at what the succession plan was.''

Last week, School Board Attorney Luis Garcia issued an opinion saying that the board had not violated the state's open-meeting laws, adding that there was precedent for selecting a superintendent in that manner.

`NO NOTICE'

But Viscito said the School Board violated the public trust by not giving citizens enough notice.

Several members of the ethics committee -- and a handful of parents who attended Wednesday's meeting -- agreed.

''There was no notice of the critical event that happened that evening to the public,'' said committee member Frederick ''Buck'' Thornburg. ``That's really the issue. There was no transparency. There was no notice.''

Said parent Adolfo Perez: ``This was pre-cooked. That's the notion that the public out there has.''

Committee member Jacqueline Becerra noted that the committee's opinion had nothing to do with Carvalho's qualifications.

Carvalho, 44, started his career as a physics teacher and rose through the ranks to become a top administrator. Most recently, he was in charge of grant administration and legislative affairs.

SIDESTEPPED E-MAILS

The committee did not address questions about e-mails between Carvalho and former Miami Herald education reporter Tania deLuzuriaga. Carvalho has said their relationship was professional, and the e-mails have not been authenticated.

Committee member Thornburg said the e-mails were not within the jurisdiction of the ethics committee.

''Those kinds of things are within the purview of the School Board,'' he said. ``It's their prerogative to determine whether or not to look into them.''

`HOPEFUL'

On the whole, Viscito said he was ''satisfied'' with the committee's recommendation.

''I'm hopeful that the School Board will hear what the committee has said and act upon it,'' Viscito said after the meeting. ``If it doesn't, then I truly believe there is something wrong with the board.''

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