After Austin ISD Superintendent Meria Carstarphen announced plans to leave the district to serve as leader of Atlanta Public Schools, the AISD board of trustees named Chief Schools Officer Paul Cruz as interim superintendent at its April 15 meeting.

The board accepted Carstarphen's resignation, which is effective April 23, and unanimously voted to approve Cruz for the role effective April 16. Cruz told the board he will work with the district to maintain its focus on social and emotional learning, dual-language education, completing its facility master plan and implementing new graduation plans throughout the district. He said in his time as interim superintendent, increasing graduation rates will be one of his top priorities.

"In AISD, we can't miss a beat," Cruz said. "We have a large, complex school system. The work will continue. At the end of the day what's most important is that the third grader is going to be in fourth grade in the next school year and for our 12th graders, our seniors, to graduate from high school, walk across that stage and then go on to their college, career and life."

Board President Vincent Torres said Cruz has worked with the district's senior leadership team on developing the district's 2014 fiscal year budget as well as helping to manage AISD facilities and operations. He joined the district in 2006.

In addition, Cruz led the district in its transition from the previous standardized state testing system, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, system, Torres said. Cruz has also worked to implement new House Bill 5 programming in order to meet new state graduation requirements.

"Our board is confident that Dr. Cruz possesses the knowledge and leadership skills to maintain our momentum and progress through the end of this school year and during the time it takes for the board to select a permanent superintendent," Torres said.

The board also unanimously approved a request for proposals for a firm to help the district with its long-term search for a superintendent.

During citizens communication, a few attendees including attendee Alberto Gonzalez expressed an interest in the board hiring Cruz as a superintendent permanently.

"We don't need a search firm," Gonzalez said. "We don't need a national search. We have a wealth of talent here in AISD, and for someone to suggest that we might be potentially rudderless does a disservice of the hardworking leadership we still have in this district."

Torres said Cruz does not plan to request an application for the permanent superintendent position.

Parent Celeste Roll said she appreciates the communication in regards to the search for an interim superintendent and a permanent replacement for Carstarphen.

"My hope is that in the same fashion the board held meetings at various local high schools with regards to facilities, the same approach would be implemented in outreach for community input regarding the next superintendent," Roll said.

Cruz's contract has not been signed yet, but he is slated to receive a salary of $275,000, an increase from the chief schools officer's salary of $175,000, said Alex Sanchez, AISD executive director of community engagement.

More information about the superintendent search is available at https://www.austinisd.org/superintendent-search.