2008 Americana Festival
July 4th celebrations worldwide
Wire walker at Kings Island
Saturday, May 17, 2008
DAYTON — Superintendent Percy Mack, who led Dayton schools from a worst-in-Ohio ranking to test score gains and other improvements over six years, will leave the district July 1.
Mack on Friday, May 16, accepted the superintendent's job in Columbia, S.C., a district of 23,000 students compared to 16,000 here.
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Mack, 57, said he is not running from Dayton, but feels the pull of family commitments in the south. His children and grandchildren live in Georgia.
"Dayton has been home for me," he said. "The only thing that would change that would be family. My family is very important to me. Right now, I have to support them. The sacrifice in moving had to be mine."
The school board in Columbia interviewed Mack and two other candidates last week. Friday morning, Mack was offered the job. He said he agreed to the terms, but has not signed a contract. The board has said it wanted to pay its next superintendent $195,000 to $230,000. Mack makes about $140,000 here.
Dayton school board President Yvonne Isaacs said she was happy for Mack, but sad for Dayton. As for the district's immediate future with a levy expected in November and no superintendent after July 1, Isaacs said the board would quickly begin developing an action plan.
"It's going to present a challenge for us," she said.
