CCSN chief looks again at job offer
A higher salary might entice Community College of Southern Nevada President Richard Carpenter to accept a position in Houston that he originally turned down.
Carpenter said he now is “seriously considering” the position of chancellor of the North Harris Montgomery Community College District and has agreed to negotiate a contract with the college.
“They’re very interested, and they will put forth a very competitive offer,” Carpenter said.
The Board of Trustees from the college district on Wednesday eliminated the other two candidates for the position of chancellor of the district, naming Carpenter as their “sole finalist.”
Carpenter said he was surprised by the decision because he formally had turned down the offer by the chair of the Board of Trustees earlier this week and expected the board to nominate someone else for the post.
The chairman of the board offered Carpenter a $320,000 annual salary, about $40,000 more than he earns at CCSN, before he turned down the job, and Carpenter said he expects that the board now will increase the offer.
Chancellor Jim Rogers said he had agreed on a three-year extension with Carpenter and a salary comparable to what Houston offered him. The extension would be contingent on approval by the Board of Regents.
“I’ve got a deal worked out with him. He’s not going anywhere,” Rogers said.
He added that he would be “very distressed” if Carpenter left.
Carpenter currently has a year left on his contract and was hoping to have it extended at the next Board of Regents meeting in June.
He went through a largely positive public review two weeks ago, which he said made him feel confident that his contract at CCSN would be extended.
Carpenter said he originally turned down the Houston job because he wanted to stay at CCSN to finish several projects at the school. But he said the position in Houston could be too good to pass up.
Taking the job would put Carpenter close to his native Louisiana, where he has family. He was a finalist to head the Louisiana Community and Technical College System in October before he withdrew from the search.
He said he probably would discuss a contract after next week with officials from Houston.