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DAYTON — Tuesday's election brought big changes to the Dayton school board.

And it may be only the beginning.

When the new board takes its seats in January, there will be a new balance of power and a host of uncertainties.

Will the six-year-old academic reform continue as is? Will the construction program be altered? Will the board seek a new school levy in May? And will the current leadership — Yvonne Issacs as board president and Percy Mack as superintendent — continue?

For his part, Mack said nothing about the election changed his approach. He said he isn't job hunting, even though he flirted with the superintendency of Mobile, Ala., schools in August. And the new board does not worry him, he said.

"I've worked with school boards for 35 years," he said. "I've worked with all different kinds of boards that have changed over time. The board we started with here has changed over time. And when new people have come on, we've gotten along and done what we needed to do for kids."

As for Isaacs, two of her strongest supporters — Mario Gallin and Lee Massoud — were defeated and her closest friend on the board, Gail Littlejohn, just resigned. Election winners Jeff Mims and Stacy Thompson have generally been supportive of her. But after that, it's uncertain.

Board member Joe Lacey and Isaacs have been at odds at times. And the two newcomers — Nancy Nerny and Sheila Taylor — have found common ground with Lacey on some issues.

Meanwhile, Littlejohn's seat has two applicants — former mayoral candidate David Bohardt, who shares Lacey's passion for historic preservation, and Ronald Lee, a retired city volunteer who has expressed support for the current reform plan.

The board plans to make its decision before Thanksgiving.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2485 or selliott@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Related: It's a new era for the Dayton school board | Scott Elliott blogs about education