Frauds, Fakes, Or Fabulous
Sep 11, 2008 8:12 pm US/Eastern
Carvalho Addresses Rumors Of Sabotage Against Crew
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Alberto Carvalho was named head of Miami-Dade Public Schools Wednesday afternoon after turning down an offer from Pinellas Countyto head its school system. He replaces Rudy Crew, whose agreed to a contract buy-out offered by Miami-Dade school board members
CBS
Alberto Carvalho, the man named as the new Miami-Dade school superintendent, was still deciding Thursday whether he wants the job. A day after the ouster of his old boss, Rudy Crew, Carvalho says his heart is here.
But his sudden selection to the top job in a troubled district now has him on damage control. He is facing claims he was secretly trying to sabotage his former boss. Amidst well wishers, the 43-year-old associate superintendent measured his desire to take the helm of the nation's fourth largest school district, but in doing so, Carvalho scrambled to deflect criticisms that he sought to undermine crew's standing with the board. He's calling it a smear campaign.
Thursday, Carvalho went back to his teaching roots at Miami Jackson High, saying hello to old friends and staring at old yearbook photos.
Teacher, administrator, and now associate superintendent, Carvalho is—with Rudy Crew's departure—suddenly faced with a choice: Does he take the top post as Miami-Dade Schools superintendent, offered just hours after crews settlement and departure were hammered out Wednesday?
"My heart is in this community," said Carvalho. "I am still thinking about it."
Or does he take the same job in Pinellas County, where Carvalho interviewed recently?
These were words uttered at a recent Pinellas School Board Meeting by Carvalho, "Ultimately the reason I'd like to come to Pinellas is because I believe in my heart that Pinellas presents a perfect match for my skill set, being a superintendent and interacting with the board is like a marriage."
Some board members in Miami-Dade feel it's a shotgun marriage here in Miami. They respect Carvalho, but don't like the rush.
"Way too rushed--the hour and half it took is not the way to make a decision affecting 350 thousand students," said board member Ana Rivas-Logan.
The backbiting can run deep at school headquarters, on Wednesday Carvalho battled a flurry of emails. They alleged he had undermined Rudy Crew by secretly circulating to board members questions critical of his boss's budget management.
"Totally manufactured, absolutely manufactured," said Carvalho.
The job here will be difficult—huge budget cuts, teachers currently without their promised raises, less help for kids in the classroom. It's a daunting challenge, but for all that Carvalho says, he always tells school kids to follow their heart.
"If you are telling them to follow their heart, it'd be silly not to follow your own advice, right? I think that is right."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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