HomePoliticsCCSD JARA Named Nevada Superintendent of The Year- NO JOKE Politics CCSD JARA Named Nevada Superintendent of The Year- NO JOKE Aug 8, 2023 No, it’s not April Fool’s Day. No, it’s not the twilight zone. Clark County School District Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara, the failed leader of the worst school district in the country, was just named The Nevada Superintendent of the Year by the Nevada Association of School Superintendents. Maybe this is why our state is dead last in public education in the country? According to the Nevada Association of School Superintendents, Candidates are judged by leadership for their learning, communication, professionalism, and community involvement. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 35% of 8th-grade students at CCSD failed the basic reading test known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, in 2022. And this score dropped from 2019. Biden’s U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the scores are quote “appalling” Nevada Association of School Superintendents issued the following statement: “As the Nevada Association of School Superintendents’ president and leader of one of the largest school systems in the country, Dr. Jara maintains a focus on ensuring that children are at the center of every decision. He has worked to ensure that the vision and mission of schools is at the forefront of decisions made by our state leadership. We are excited that Dr. Jara will be representing our state among other outstanding leaders across the country. We are grateful for work for kids and staff across Nevada.” “The NASS presents the award each year to a superintendent who has shown “tremendous effort and dedication to enriching the lives of children and the community as a whole.” Jara was fired last year before he was rehired. CCSD Trustee (R) Katie Williams cast the deciding vote with Bernie Sanders Socialist supporter Lola Brooks to retain Superintendent Jara, give him a $75,000 raise, moving his salary from $320,000 to $395,000, and extend his contract for 3.5 years. Katie Williams voted in support of Jara’s job evaluation as “highly effective.” Jara was charged with 10 ethics violations. The Complaint reads: Dr. Jara a violated NRS Chapter 281A in several ways using his position as the Superintendent of the Clark County School District to attempt to influence the upcoming CCSD Board Trustee Election(s), specifically the election presently taking place in District B where Jeff Proffitt, the business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 88, is running for a Trustee seat. I further allege Dr. Jara used his position to gain employment for his immediate family, specifically his son, who I believe presently resides in Jesus Jara’s home. Some facts and circumstances supporting my allegations are as follows: – During the period of mid – late 2019 Dr. Jara used Patrick McNaught of GP partnerships, the contracted lobbying firm for CCSD, to gain entry for his son into the Local 88 apprenticeship program. Local 88 is also a client of GP partnerships. – In the beginning of 2020 Dr. Jaras’ son was terminated for unknown reasons leading Dr. Jara to having a falling out with Jeff Proffitt, Business Manager of Local 88, claiming his son was treated unfairly. – When election season started, Jeff Proffitt filed for CCSD Trustee candidacy. When Dr. Jara learned Mr. Proffitt was running, he directed Patrick McNaught (GP partnerships, a contracted firm of CCSD) to meet with Mr. Proffitt to obtain information about his race. The benefit for Dr. Jara doing this is to obtain information regarding Mr. Proffitt’s political motives, if he would support Dr Jaras contract renewal that happens in 2021, and potentially other upcoming CCSD items of interest. – Mr. McNaught sent reports that included “Trustee Races” as one of CCSD’s lobbying priorities and cited in the activities report that the meeting with Profitt was about his Trustee race. – In March of 2020 GP partnerships was terminated by Dr. Jara even though the contract wasn’t fulfilled, and without explanation. In summary, I believe there is enough evidence to support that Dr. Jara knowingly violated several sections of NRS 281A using taxpayer resources for his own political and personal gain: 1) Helping a family member to obtain employment, and 2) using a CCSD contracted lobbyist to influence a political election, one that in this case literally elects one of his seven bosses. There is also enough circumstantial evidence to support that Dr. Jara may have directed CCSD staff to alter the records on file from GP partnerships so as to not reflect his wrongdoings. The Sisolak appointed ethics board found nothing wrong with his behavior.