Before heading to board meeting, Miami supe Alberto Carvalho speaks out — but not about his anticipated move to New York

Update: Carvalho turned down the job in dramatic fashion on Thursday. More here

Hours before an emergency meeting where Alberto Carvalho was expected to let his school board know he’ll be New York City’s next schools chief, the Miami-Dade superintendent was weighing in on the day’s pressing policy questions.

“I want to take advantage of this opportunity to scream out to Tallahassee and to Washington D.C., and to demand what’s fair for our teachers: More pay, more security in schools,” Carvalho said in an interview with Miami’s CBS4. “Don’t abuse them emotionally or intellectually by demanding that they carry arms into schools.”

Carvalho was speaking outside iPrep, the Miami high school where he has been principal even while running the country’s fourth-largest school system. There, he shook hands with students he’s known for years and gave out interview after interview about his anticipated departure, which comes after a decade at the helm in Miami and an entire career working in its schools.

“Today, I woke up to 500 text messages,” he said. “I don’t even know where to start, other than to say, thank you, thank you, thank you. I love Miami.”

But Carvalho was cagey about confirming that he would actually be making the move — even as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has already welcomed him warmly. That confirmation is expected at the 10 a.m. school board meeting, which will be streamed online here.

We’ll have updates all day.  

Here’s what Carvalho was saying this morning:

From CBS4: “I wanted to start my day as I always do, at a school, connecting with kids and connecting with teachers and parents. Look, for me, today is a regular school day. That’s why I’m here early this morning, to do my job. But at the same time, I want to take advantage of this opportunity to scream out to Tallahassee and to Washington D.C., and to demand what’s fair for our teachers. More pay, more security in schools. Don’t abuse them emotionally or intellectually by demanding that they carry arms into schools. Let’s honor them. Let’s value education, let’s fund education. So, I’m going to continue to do my job today as I’ve always done, being a loud voice for teacher sand the comm. And above all, I love Miami. This has been my home for many years. I have honored this community. Today, I woke up to 500 text messages. I don’t even know where to start, other than to say, thank you, thank you, thank you. I love Miami.”

From WSVN: “We as a community, as parents, as citizens of this state, we ought to question a lot about Florida. Whether or not we should be arming teachers with anything other than great resources and inspiration. Whether or not we should be doing more to secure schools; honoring teachers with higher salaries. And that’s exactly the kind of thing I want to talk about a 10 o’clock in the morning.”

From WPLG (ABC): “I feel like crying myself right now. But we have to do a lot of work in this state to value education, to value teachers. To stop the insanity. That’s what I hope to talk about at 10 o’clock in the morning. I’m the least of this equation. What’s important is these kids and these teachers.”