MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS
For Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, so far, so good
Miami-Dade schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has balanced the budget, united the School Board and launched innovative programs. Can he sustain the momentum in uncertain economic times?
BY KATHLEEN MCGRORY
KMCGRORY@MIAMIHERALD.COM
The inspiration for the new school came from an iPhone.
``The classrooms are the different apps,'' Miami-Dade schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho explained. ``Students go into the room with their laptops, download the lessons and work in their own environment.''
The new, high-tech high school, dubbed the iPrep Academy, is among the innovative ideas Carvalho has introduced during his two years running the Miami-Dade school system.
He took over at a time when the district was facing a $100 million budget gap. School Board members were bickering, not only with each other but also with state lawmakers.
But Carvalho united the board. He improved its image in Tallahassee and brought the Miami-Dade district into the national conversation on education.
Most observers say his greatest accomplishment has been navigating the budget crisis without firing teachers or raising taxes. All the while, Carvalho has managed to debut unique academic programs. And student performance has continued to improve.
``You have to give him credit for what he's been able to accomplish with virtually no money,'' former Superintendent Roger Cuevas said. ``He's been able to innovate in a time of constant budget cuts.''
Sustaining the momentum may be challenging.
Come December, three new School Board members will ascend the dais, shifting the balance of power. The following year, the federal stimulus funds that have helped balance the budget will run out, leaving the district in a no-win financial situation.
``The question is, can Carvalho keep the consensus in tough times?'' said Dario Moreno, director of the Metropolitan Center at Florida International University.
Unquestionably, few Florida superintendents are as powerful as Carvalho. When Carvalho questioned the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores this summer, education officials statewide listened.
This year, Gov. Charlie Crist twice called upon Carvalho to chair statewide education committees -- one of which helped Florida win millions of dollars in a national competition for education funding.
That has translated to cache on the national level.
``People know who he is and what he is doing in Miami,'' said Dan Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators.
Carvalho, 46, began his career as a science teacher at Miami Jackson Senior High. He was known for his tireless work ethic and sharp style; his penchant for wearing suits earned him the nickname Mr. Armani.
It wasn't long before Carvalho was a rising star in the district. He became a vice principal, district spokesman, associate superintendent and a member of former Superintendent Rudy Crew's inner circle.
Carvalho's appointment to the district's top job in 2008 was not without controversy. He was voted in about an hour after Crew was bought out at a hard-to-follow School Board meeting. Critics chided the board for not holding a national search.
Soon after, a series of e-mails surfaced purporting to show a romantic relationship between Carvalho, who is married, and a former Miami Herald education reporter. The e-mails were never authenticated, and Carvalho denied any impropriety.
But Carvalho overcame the early skeptics by tackling the district's bleeding budget. Instead of laying off employees, Carvalho cut central office spending and created efficiencies in transportation and food services.
He also put an end to the discord on the School Board, which had led to public bickering and televised spats. He reached out to state lawmakers, many of whom had maintained a chilly relationship with the School Board under Crew.
``He understands policy and politics, and that's very unique for somebody in his position,'' said state Sen. Dan Gelber, a Miami Beach Democrat. ``It's allowed him to navigate the very difficult waters of Miami-Dade's public school system.''
Those skills have also given Carvalho the political capital necessary to make changes at some of the district's struggling inner-city schools. At Miami Edison and Central highs, Carvalho replaced subpar teachers and administrators with top talent. Both schools have since improved their test scores dramatically.
In fact, scores have inched up districtwide. And last year, Miami-Dade's Hispanic students earned better math and reading scores than Hispanic students in other U.S. cities.
``Through a lot of hard work, we've been able to restore respect and dignity to the school system,'' Carvalho said. ``We've always been proud of our teachers and principals, but we didn't always take pride in the institution itself.''
In recent months, Carvalho has brought a do-more-with-less attitude to the district. The iPrep Academy, for example, represented a unique idea and cost less than $100,000 to implement -- pocket change compared to the millions that usually go into opening new schools.
Carvalho also opened the first district-run school for children with autism. He launched a program for overaged middle school students. And he helped grow partnerships with organizations like Teach for America and the Posse Foundation, which prepares students for top colleges.
``He's done an incredible job under the most difficult circumstances,'' said Paul Cejas of the Miami Business Forum and a former School Board member.
Despite widespread support, critics say Carvalho hasn't done enough to create systemwide change.
``He doesn't seem to have any broad vision for the school district or programs that are going to improve education for everybody,'' said Brian Peterson, a Florida International University professor who edits The Miami Education Review newsletter.
It's only going to get tougher.
Experts don't expect the economy to recover quickly, so the district will have to remain thrifty. Making matters worse, the federal stimulus dollars for public schools run out in 2012.
``The economy is going to be challenging,'' Carvalho said. ``The sunsetting of the stimulus dollars will impose an incredible burden on our state, but we are taking steps right now to mitigate the impact.''
Those steps include growing the district's rainy day funds, even in difficult times.
What's more, the face of the School Board is changing. Raquel Regalado, the daughter of Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, will soon be joining the board. And Carlos Curbelo, an aide to U.S. Senator George LeMieux, is favored to win one of the seats in the November election. Their presence could shake up the balance of power on the board.
Carvalho will also have to deal with new national standards and a potentially explosive national conversation on merit pay for teachers. Many policymakers want teachers to be paid based on performance -- something teachers' unions adamantly oppose. Moreover, Carvalho will have to negotiate new salary provisions for teachers.
United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz said Carvalho ``has done a good job juggling the demands of the school system with the funding he receives from Tallahassee and the grants he and I partnered to win.''
But, Aronowitz added: ``Teacher morale is low and his relationship with us is in danger unless employees stand to recover the losses they have endured.''
Still, Carvalho believes he can guide the district in the right direction.
``My strategy going forward will continue to be to elevate the needs of children and teachers, to launch new initiatives and to become more effective everyday,'' he said. ``We'll all find common ground.''
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/25/v-fullstory/1842688/for-carvalho-so-far-so-good.html#ixzz14ECXtV7V
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