CCSD trustees remove Pedro Martinez from finalist slate and approve four finalists for interviews

Clark County School District trustees removed one candidate from the superintendent search slate and approved four others to move forward to performance interviews, voting on a revised timeline and spending authorization during a special meeting on Feb. 18, 2025.

The board, chaired by President Irene Bustamante Adams, voted 7–0 to remove Pedro Martinez from the list of candidates the district would invite to interview. Trustee Biasari moved to remove Martinez and Trustee Cavazos seconded the motion. Trustee Biasari said Martinez “does not fit our profile and fails to meet our standards for several reasons,” and that community feedback and social media response had been broadly negative. Several other trustees supported that removal motion, citing concerns about community reaction and patterns in Martinez’s prior employment history. Public commenters including Tiffany Beemel also urged trustees to keep Martinez off the slate.

Trustees later voted 6–1 to remove the candidate listed as Jason Glass from the slate; Trustee Barone made that motion and Trustee Cavazos seconded. After further discussion and additional public comment the board approved a slate of finalists for first-round interviews: Joan Ebert, John Anzalone, Ben Schildener and Jesse Welch. The board’s recorded actions on Feb. 18 also included a set of scheduling, community engagement and contracting decisions tied to the next phases of the search.

Why it matters: Trustees said they were balancing the search firm’s vetting with immediate community reaction and the need for a superintendent who can both lead the district and secure community support quickly. The board also set a firm timeline so finalists can be interviewed and a selection made before the district’s next major legislative deadlines.

Key decisions and next steps - Interview slate: Trustees approved Joan Ebert, John Anzalone, Ben Schildener and Jesse Welch as the finalists to be invited for performance interviews. The board moved and voted in phases: first approving three finalists and then adding Jesse Welch before closing additions. - Interview timing and format: Trustees set first-round interviews for Feb. 24–25, with two candidates per night beginning at 5 p.m. The board approved 50-minute interview blocks with a 10-minute break between candidates and asked that draft interview questions begin to be developed on Feb. 24. The board also approved that the first-round interviews be performance-style presentations (SWOT-style) and that the presentations and related materials be collected and posted as reference materials consistent with Nevada public‑records and open‑meeting requirements. - Community engagement: The board approved a community forum format for March 10 (one community livestream room plus other in-person staff and parent/student opportunities) and a second round of board interviews and stakeholder sessions on March 11. The board set March 13 as the target date to make a final superintendent selection. - Governance training: Trustees approved professional‑learning sessions (governance training) for finalists with a governance consultant (Dr. Alsbury) between March 3–9 so finalists understand the district’s governance model before second‑round interviews. - Budget authorization: Trustees authorized taking up to $20,000 from the district’s previously approved $50,000 travel/search allocation to pay for additional HYA (search firm) staffing at the multiple events and rooms the board approved; the vote passed 7–0.

What trustees and search staff said - Trustee Biasari, who moved to remove Martinez, cited a large volume of constituent feedback and social‑media response and said the board should avoid repeating past hiring problems. “No presentation or interview can change this position,” Biasari said, arguing Martinez was unlikely to win needed community support. - Dr. Shawn Joseph, the search consultant from HYA Associates, stressed the firm’s vetting processes and noted Martinez is a qualified candidate but acknowledged boards must weigh fit with the district’s politics and community expectations: “I would not want it to be said that he is not a qualified candidate… maybe not appropriate for the politics of Clark County at this moment.” - Several classroom teachers, principals and community members urged trustees to prioritize candidates with local experience and relationships in Carson City and southern Nevada. NEA of Southern Nevada President Vicky Criedel told trustees she favored candidates with Nevada experience and ties to the district so a new superintendent could act quickly on funding and legislative matters.

Public comment and community input Public comment at the Feb. 18 meeting was extensive and largely focused on candidate fit. Speakers who identified themselves as teachers, administrators, parents and community advocates urged trustees to move forward with finalists who have strong local ties and community trust. Multiple speakers endorsed John Anzalone and Joan Ebert as candidates who understand CCSD’s operations and local politics; others warned against bringing back leaders seen as polarizing.

Process notes and transparency Trustees and the search firm agreed on several process safeguards: (1) finalists will submit presentation materials at the same time to avoid one candidate seeing another’s presentation in advance; (2) the board will post candidate materials as reference materials consistent with Nevada open‑meeting and public‑records rules; and (3) community feedback gathered at the forums will be captured and provided to trustees as public reference material. Legal counsel emphasized that any community feedback collected will be subject to Nevada public-records law.

Where this stands now The board’s actions on Feb. 18 finalize the list of finalists for first‑round, performance-style interviews on Feb. 24–25 (two candidates per night, starting at 5 p.m.). The board will hold community forums and additional finalist‑level interviews March 10–11, and it has set March 13 as the target date to select the next superintendent. Trustees also authorized additional budget to ensure the search firm can staff the multi-room community forums and the multi-day interview schedule.

Ending note Trustees said they intend to balance the search firm’s national vetting with the district’s immediate need for a leader who can work effectively with local stakeholders, the legislature and CCSD staff while restoring community trust.