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School Superintendent's Job Hangs In The Balance

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Jul 31, 2008 9:10 am US/Eastern

School Superintendent's Job Hangs In The Balance

MIAMI (CBS4) ― Angry parents and teachers joined forces Wednesday evening at a Miami Dade School Board public hearing on proposals that would cut $200 million from next year's budget. More than 150 people signed up to speak before the board, all upset with the cuts and some blaming Superintendent Rudy Crew for not handling the crisis better.

"This is a conversation essentially about whose ox will be gored," said Crew.

During a school board committee meeting earlier in the day, a proposal was moved forward that calls for Crew's termination without giving him a severance package.

"The board has voted on several items and the superintendent has failed to implement them and that's insubordination," said one of Crew's chief critics Ana Logan Rivas.

During the public hearing, some board members and district staff who support Crew walked out in protest when board member Renier Diaz de la Portilla listed his complaints against the superintendent.

Outside the School Board's headquarters, students used music and signs to protest Crew's proposal to cut electives like band and dance.

"The reason the arts are so important, and the reason electives are so important is because they keep students interested," said Ferguson High student Angelina Lapiana.

After hearing numerous complaints about cutting elective programs, Crew withdrew the proposal and lectured the crowd that they need to complain to their state legislators who give the district money.

"You've had delegation, delegation after delegation that in effect and I'm going to say it straight, they've sold this community out," said Crew.

An accusation at least one state representative says is unfounded.

"Blaming it on the legislature is making it up. It's not true, and I came to set the record straight because I thought it was unfair, our delegation fights really hard for dollars in Tallahassee," said Carlos Lopez-Cantera.

At the end of the public hearing, in a vote of 5-4, school board members approved a tentative $5.4 billion budget.  A measure that would have suspended contractually agreed upon raises for teachers was put on hold.  A final board meeting on the budget will be held in six weeks.

On Monday the board will vote on whether to end Crew's contract two years before it expires. They'll also decide on whether to put an item on the ballot that would let voters decide whether the Superintendent position should be elected instead of appointed.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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