Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2008 > May > 21 > Entry
Replacing Percy Mack may take time
There was a lot of news happening at the Dayton school board meeting Tuesday night. In addition to East End Community School coming into the school district next year, there was news on the superintendent search, Percy Mack’s departure, The Dayton Technology Design High School and Roosevelt High School.
Here’s a quick roundup:
—Superintendent’s search: I talked to five board members about the superintendent’s search and here’s the consensus — they all want to take their time with the search. All said they were looking for someone who could connect with the community and truly care about the district and its students in the way the felt Mack did. Most wanted to do a national search for a superintendent, although all of them were open to, or preferred, a local candidate, if possible.
What does this mean for Debra Brathwaite? Here’s what it looks like. If she is offered the job at Princeton, I expect she will go. Dayton does not appear ready to jump to compete for her. If she does not get the job at Princeton, things will slow down and she’ll be in the mix in Dayton. Brathwaite told me that her second interview at Princeton went well Monday night and she expects to hear from them sometime in the next week.
—Percy Mack: Mack spoke at length about his decision to leave for Columbia, S.C., emphasizing the influence of his family on the decision:
“This weekend, I spent time with granddaughter for her promotion ceremony from fifth grade,” he said. “I remember when she started in first grade. these days have gone by very quickly. My children have fond memories of the grandparents. I hope some day my grandhchilren wil have fond memories of me because of the time I could give them and share.”
Mack also recounted the district’s advancements during his tenure in terms of test score gains, graduation rate gains, budget improvements and other changes. He praised his senior staff, teachers, students and parents for helping push the district to better achievement.
“The hardest part is leaving this team that has worked so hard to drive the improvements in the school distirct,” he said. “I wish everyone well. I wont cut my ties with Dayton schools. Dayton schools will always be a part of Dr. Mack. I hope to always be a part of Dayton schools.”
—Dayton Technology Design High School: Principal David White and his staff made a presentation about the success of this alternative high school that mostly serves dropouts. The school in its second year made big gains in the number of kids it retained, the number of graduates and the number of kids who went on to college.
—Roosevelt High School: Word is the demolition of Roosevelt High School will begin before the end of May. (NOTE: It was pushed back again after I reported here earlier that demolition would start Friday.)
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment | Categories: Dayton Public Schools
Comments
By null
May 27, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
How did Nolan Graham and Marilyn Croker get included in the discussion of replacing Dr. Mack? Are these misplaced blogs, or what???By margaret
May 27, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
How can a school work as a truly “site-based” school within the confines of DPS? Will they truly be able to make their own decisions—curriculum, hiring, budget, etc.? I just don’t see that happening in such a large district with so many mandates/issues with ODE.By Rich
May 27, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
What should we look for in a replacement for Percy Mack…let’s see, how about someone that has the following: honesty, integrity, honesty, not afraid of the teachers union, and, honesty.By Tom
May 27, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
Who cares? Most of the so called “School Board” can’t speak good English as it is. Doesn’t much matter, one way or the other.By daniel
May 27, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
i hope they pick someone who can speak proper english this time and is not an embarresment on the tv and in public!!!!!By steve
May 27, 2008 6:02 AM | Link to this
it’s obvious that this board wants to waste more money by playing the national search for Super game…It’s clear that whoever get’s this post will do one good thing 10 wrong things then move on like the rest… Let’s be smart hire from within and wait for the next implosion!!By teacher
May 22, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Not everyone has the same sentiment about Nolan Graham. P-K is wonderful this year with Mrs. CrokerBy PK Teacher
May 22, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
and some of us don’t. Maybe you can move to Ruskin. It is a DPS rumor that Mr. Graham will be the principal. PK is awful compared to last year, I’ll give you that, but Graham was no saint, and his intentions were lining his own pockets. Maybe your missing your extra funds. Teachers walk around and pretend that Mrs. Croker is super, but yet you miss the good ole days. It’s all a game…..By Laura
May 21, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
P-K was the winner with Nolan when he left Wogaman. In the opinion of many, he was “one of the best.”By teacher
May 21, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this
Patterson-Kennedy used to be site based. Oh how some of us miss the good old days with Nolan Graham.By Old Coach
May 21, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Scott, you commented on the wrong blog. Long day? : )By Scott Elliott
May 21, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
Appalled Teacher, in essence East End becomes a full-blown DPS school with this move. DPS gets to count its students for enrollment and test scores and the school receives all DPS services. At Ruskin, it will be a site-based school with a degree of autonomy (similar to WOW and DECA, before it left the district) but all the school staff become district employees and DPS has ultimate authority. The two sides see it as a win-win. DPS gets the kids and what the board believes is a good program. Plus they think it shows charter parents schools like this can exist within the district. East End gets a new building and better services. That’s the thinking of both sides. What is different than WOW and DECA is this school started totally independent of the district and is operated by a non-profit community center. WOW and DECA had strong ties to the district all along.