LAS VEGAS -- The Clark County School Board has begun the process of replacing outgoing Superintendent Dwight Jones by setting a public meeting to discuss how to fill is position.
The move comes just one day after Jones announced he's breaking his four-year contract to take care of his mother.
If history is a guide, the process to find his replacement could be difficult and expensive.
"This is not easy as he had a four-year contract hoping to have him for a minimum of four years and frankly at one point we were having a conversation about extending his contract," Clark County School Board President Carolyn Edwards said.
The last nationwide search in 2010 for Jones racked up at least a $50,000 tab for a recruitment firm.
District leaders said it's not easy to find someone qualified or who is willing to run a school system facing so many challenges.
"Lets be honest, our per pupil funding in the state of Nevada is among the lowest in the nation and in Clark County it's probably the lowest in the nation," explained Edwards.
The superintendent's salary becomes another big issue with Jones making $270,000 per year, excluding benefits.
Attracting a candidate is competitive, according to district leaders, and the cash-strapped district can't even afford new schools.
"We may well need to look at the compensation package we offer our superintendent, it's a difficult thing for us to do, it's not popular in this community which is actually sometimes frustrating," Edwards said.
Kristy Pace is a mother of two Clark County students and said the search for a new superintendent should include a nationwide sweep.
"I think cost is always a concern when it comes to things like this, but I think it's a very important role," Pace said. "They are the leader of our school district and we need to do what we need to do to find the right person."
School district leaders said whatever path the search takes, it will all be in the public eye.
A public meeting is set for March 14th when school board trustees will decide on how to move forward in finding the new superintendent.
District leaders said it is unclear whether Jones will face any penalty for leaving his contract early.
