Thursday, August 28, 2008
Miami-Dade School Board shaken-up after surprising victory
PINECREST, Fla. (WSVN) -- The big win for the newest school board member could have big implications for Superintendent Dr. Rudy Crew, as the superintendent's job may be in jeopardy again.
The new board member, Larry Feldman, will represent Pinecrest's district, where he has been a principal and an educator for more than 35 years.
The superintendent survived a close call from some board members this month trying to get him out. At a meeting on Aug. 4, the school board voted 5-4 to keep Crew. Feldman promises change to the community and said the decision on whether or not to fire the district's chief will come down to Crew. "If he wants to be an employee, then he'll have a checklist, a delta and a positive saying, These are my skills that are excellent, and these are my challenges that I need help on," Feldman said.
Crew is losing one of his strongest supporters. The majority in his favor was lost in Tuesday's election and Evelyn Greer must give up her seat, leaving Crew's fate in the hands of Feldman, should his job ever be brought to vote again. "At anytime that the members of the board change in composition, anything is possible," said School Board member Martin Karp.
The newest board member is making it clear in which direction his vote will swing. "It should not be adversarial. It should be the kind of processes where everybody is working for the same goal, which is the kids," Feldman said.
The changes will not begin until November, when the new School Board member will settle into his seat.
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