It took two hours of debate but the Washoe School Board made some progress on Tuesday. First in a unanimous vote…the board voted that the last day on the job for Superintendent Pedro Martinez would be November 4th. Then everyone expected the discussion to turn to appointing Deputy School Superintendent Traci Davis as the Interim in that post, because that's where the discussion had left off at the last meeting. Instead Board President Barbara Clark who was not present, made a motion by phone that a former colleague of hers and other board members, be appointed as the interim. And that set off a two hour debate.
“For me that is appalling!” said Trustee Estella Gutierrez. “We have a very dedicated and capable Deputy Superintendent on staff and there is no reason we don't appoint her as the interim. I just don't understand any confusion or debate here. And that's where I stand on this.”
“I respectfully disagree,” said Trustee Howard Rosenberg. “I think one of the most important things is to bring in someone from the outside to look with fresh eyes and with clear view and see what we have here.”
A host of audience members also paraded to the podium in support of Davis. And in the end it was a unanimous vote in favor of appoint her.
She is excited to get started.
“I came to work today to work for kids and I'll come to work tomorrow to work for kids and all the great programs we have going for all kids in the Washoe County School District.”
She will move into the Superintendent's office next week. She'll be making $3,000 more a month as a stipend for her extra duties and the discussion on a permanent replacement will fall to the new Board of Trustees after the November election.
