Carvalho: Next school superintendent should stand up to political influence
The next superintendent of Miami-Dade schools should be someone who can stand up to political influences and protect the well-being of students, teachers and staff and continue improving the district’s academic progress.
Moreover, they should understand the community.
That’s according to departing Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who on Wednesday offered to reporters what he believed to be necessary qualities and qualifications for his successor.
Carvalho, 57, who has been superintendent for nearly 14 years, announced last Thursday he was leaving to head Los Angeles public schools, the nation’s second-largest school district. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Unified School District School Board unanimously approved a four-year contract for Carvalho with an annual salary of $440,000. He makes about $350,000 with Miami-Dade, the nation’s fourth-largest school district.
His final day has yet to be confirmed, but on Wednesday he said he believes “that 45 to 60 days would be adequate” for his departure.
“I want to leave fairly quickly, but not so quickly that I would in any shape or form undermine a smooth transition,” he said.
Special meeting in January to discuss search process
Carvalho’s comments came a few hours before the Miami-Dade School Board on Wednesday agreed to authorize its chairwoman, Perla Tabares Hantman, to negotiate the terms of Carvalho’s departure based on his contract.
Tabares Hantman also will call a special meeting in January for the board to discuss the “parameters and critical elements that will govern the identification of qualified candidates for the position of superintendent of schools.”
The board did not confirm a date for next month’s meeting.
Regarding his comments on how his successor must stand up to political pressure, Carvalho has battled with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over mask mandates. In July, when the delta virus was surging in Florida, the governor issued an executive order prohibiting mask requirements for public school children.
Carvalho and the school board defied the order, implementing a mask mandate for all students, faculty and staff at the start of Miami-Dade public schools in August. The Broward County school district did the same, as did about 10 other districts across the state. DeSantis fined Broward and Alachua school districts for enacting their mask mandates; the U.S. Department of Education filed a complaint to block the DeSantis’ administration’s actions.
At the time, Carvalho said he was following the guidance of medical experts convened by the district, who concluded masks protected children, faculty and staff against COVID-19. As cases waned in the fall, the district eased the mandate.
Teachers want input in Carvalho replacement
Selecting Carvalho’s replacement is “the most consequential decision we (will) make for our students and our community,” said board member Luisa Santos. “It’s extremely vital that we as board members are involved.”
Other stakeholders want a voice in the process, too: teachers.
“We know this is going to be a very tough decision as you negotiate a contract and look for candidates (but) we will also be here to offer our opinions,” said Karla Hernandez-Mats, United Teachers of Dade president. “We are educators and we care about what happens.”
Teachers will support the board in their endeavor, but they will also be “very opinionated” about the process and demand transparency, Hernandez-Mats said.
“We understand this is an extremely important decision that will not only impact the lives of the students we teach every day, but the employees of Miami Dade Public Schools and, of course, the economic welfare of our community in the long run.”
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 1:56 PM.
