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EDITORIAL
Our View: Brave Dayton school board would appoint David Bohardt
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Despite last week's election, the new Dayton school board hasn't quite taken shape. The opening created by the resignation of former President Gail Littlejohn remains to be filled by the board itself. A decision is imminent.
With the new board having members who are associated with the board's recent direction, as well as people who have been critical, the pick is particularly important.
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David Bohardt is the strongest of three candidates. An unsuccessful candidate for Dayton mayor (in 2005), he is smart, energetic, imaginative and community-minded. He is a strong advocate — best known in the area of historic preservation. He carries himself confidently and, most significantly, has proven experience in organizing and completing complicated projects — currently as a senior manager with St. Mary Development Corp. and before that as executive director of the Miami Valley Home Builders Association. He has exceptional knowledge of the community.
Ken Hook, a former Dayton Public Schools teacher, also has applied for the post. Since 2003, he has worked as an educational consultant with the Dayton Urban League. He also runs a computer consulting business, and he and his wife have been owners of Seattle East coffeehouses. He has had a varied career, but he is far less prepared for board service as the other two candidates.
Ronald C. Lee is widely perceived as the man to beat. He is a retired General Motors employee. For more than a decade, Mr. Lee has devoted himself to a wide range of volunteer community activities.
Mr. Lee was a member the Citizen Financial Review Group, a panel organized by the Dayton city manager to help develop a plan to deal with the city's budget crisis. He's been a member of the Dayton Youth Commission, was chairman of the Downtown Priority Board and served on Dayton's Board of Zoning Appeals.
The appointment is in the hands of the holdover board, not the members who were just elected. Thus President Yvonne Isaacs, and members Joe Lacey, Jeff Mims and Stacy Thompson — as well as Ann Marie ("Mario") Gallin and Lee Massoud, whom voters recently denied a new term — will be making the call.
Mr. Lee has a reputation as a person able to work well as part of the team. This is no small consideration on a board.
Mr. Bohardt is a strong personality who does not mince words. That could be a valuable asset for the district. But it could be counterproductive, too. There are concerns, for example, that Mr. Bohardt's penchant for historic preservation could upend the district's carefully balanced and well-managed school construction process.
Mr. Bohardt did himself no favors in a public statement last week: He questioned whether other board members really have been working hard on behalf of children. Not the way to win friends and influence potential colleagues.
But his gifts outweigh these risks. Settled down and focused, he could bring a much needed energy and strategic outlook to the board. And he does know enough to keep the historic preservation issue in perspective if he takes on a new role.
Mr. Lee would be a respectable choice, but a gutsy board would take a chance on Mr. Bohardt — and his potential for outstanding leadership on behalf of Dayton Public Schools.
