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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2008 > January > 10
Thursday, January 10, 2008
New board keeps Isaacs at helm
A reconstituted Dayton Board of Education began 2007 by agreeing to keep board President Isaacs at the helm.
Issacs prevailed Thursday unanimously even after the defeat in November of close allies Mario Gallin and Lee Massoud and the departure a few weeks before of her friend and mentor Gail Littlejohn.
The new board began the year with just three holdovers from the first meeting of the year — Isaacs, Joe Lacey and Stacy Thompson. Newly elected Jeff Mims, Nancy Nerny and Shelia Taylor were sworn in, joining Ronald Lee, who was appointed late last year. Despite all the change and upheaval from 2007, including a levy defeat last May that prompted deep cuts and widespread layoffs, Isaacs struck an optimistic tone.
“There has been much speculation about how this board will operate going forward,” she said. “I believe we will continue to be strong, focused and work cohesively to make the best decisions for children.”
Isaacs said the district must continue its academic reforms, add rigor to its programs and regain the “continuous improvement” rating it held before slipping one step on the state’s rating system to “academic watch” in 2007.
Among other 2008 priorities Isaacs outlined were advocating for better state funding, conducting an outside performance audit of the district’s business practices, improve customer service, communicate better inside the district and with the community, deliver construction projects on time and budget, find solutions for neighborhoods with school construction concerns and live within the district’s budget.
In other news from the meeting:
—Students from Patterson Career Center recommended a new mascot and colors when the move to the new David Ponitz Career Technology Center next to Sinclair Community College. After much discussion, debate and polling the students recommended the nickname of “Golden Panthers” with blue and gold as colors.
—The board announced it will hold four meetings this year at school sites, beginning with a Jan. 22 meeting at Cleveland Elementary School. The others will be April 15 at Thurgood Marshall High School, July 15 at Kiser Elementary Schoool and Oct 21 at Wogaman Elementary School.
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