Urban League President & CEO Urges More Time In Search Of Miami-Dade Superintendent’s Replacement

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The longtime President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami is urging Miami-Dade School Board members to take more time in finding a successor for Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.

“What’s the rush,” said the Urban League’s T. Willard Fair. He told CBS4’s Peter D’Oench “Don’t we owe it to the future of this community to find the best possible person in the world.”

air said there should be a nationwide search for Carvalho’s successor.

The Miami-Dade School Board voted last Wednesday to advertise and give candidates until 5 p.m. Wednesday to apply. The Board could give candidates more time to apply if they fail to agree on a successor. Carvalho has said he plans to leave on February 3rd but could stay a little longer if necessary.

So far, 16 people have applied for the job.

The 57-year-old Carvalho plans to take over as Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District on March 1st. He was the second longest-serving superintendent. He took over in 2008 after starting his career as a math and physics teacher at Miami Jackson Senior High School.

Fair said of the 9 School Board members, “They are moving too quickly. It is a done deal. A decision of this magnitude should not be done in this fashion. It is a miscarriage of justice. It is obvious they have decided what must be done. They are selfish. It makes no sense to me. And you say 7 days. You are going to find somebody for the 4th largest school district in the world in 7 days.”

Fair said, “This is unfair. They are there to make a decision for the children. The children do not belong to them. They belong to the adults so it seems we must exhaust all possibilities.”

Continue Reading Via CBS4.com