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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 > May > 16 > Entry
Percy Mack leaves; board to start search process
Percy Mack
Percy Mack, the superintendent who led Dayton schools from a worst-in-Ohio ranking to test score gains and other improvements over six years, will leave the district on July 1.
Mack on Friday accepted a job as superintendent in Columbia, S.C., a slightly larger school district of 23,000 students compared to 16,000 here.
Mack, who could not be immediately reached for comment, said earlier this month he was interested in the job primarily because it was closer to his native Georgia. He interviewed but was not selected for the superintendent job in Mobile, Ala., in September.
The school board in Columbia interviewed Mack and two other candidates last week. After a meeting this morning, they offered him the job and he accepted, according to The State newspaper.
School officials there did not disclose contract terms but have said they wanted to pay their next superintendent between $195,000 and $230,000. Mack makes about $140,000 in Dayton.
Dayton school board President Yvonne Isaacs said she was happy for Mack but sad for herself and for Dayton.
“This gets him as close to home as he can be without going home,” she said. “That’s good for his family.”
As for the district’s immediate future with a levy expected in November and no superintendent after July 1, Isaacs said the board would meet quickly to begin developing an action plan.
“It’s going to present a challenge for us,” she said.
Mack came to Dayton in the fall of 2001 as deputy superintendent, filling a long-vacant post as then-superintendent Jerrie Bascome McGill’s top lieutenant. Before that, he had spent his entire career as a teacher, coach, principal and administrator at school districts in Savannah and DeKalb County, Ga. He three adult children and grandchildren all live in Georgia.
When McGill retired in July of 2002, the Gail Littlejohn-led school board quickly announced Mack’s promotion to the top job. At the time, Dayton’s state report card rating had fallen to worst in Ohio as the district struggled with financial and facilities problems.
Mack took charge of the board’s wide-ranging reform plan that moved more money to the classroom while cutting overall spending. At the same time, the district began a $627 million school construction program. By 2006, the district’s scores had improved enough for it to escape “academic emergency,” Ohio’s lowest rating level.
But his luck began to change in 2007 when a financial squeeze led the board to place a 15.17-mill levy on the ballot. It lost badly and Mack had to implement $30 million in budget cuts, including more than 200 teacher layoffs. The cuts angered teachers and parents. And last fall the district’s report card rating fell back to “academic watch,” the second lowest rating level.
Isaacs said the board did not have a pre-set plan for how to replace Mack. One potential candidate is Deputy Superintendent Debra Brathwaite, who has interviewed for superintendent jobs in Toledo and Akron. Isaacs said she was not aware Brathwaite was a finalist for superintendent of Princeton schools near Cincinnati.
“That will definitely be a factor,” she said. “We will be moving quickly in the next few days to get together and look at all our options and chart a path forward.”
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Dayton Public Schools
Comments
By Laura
May 17, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
Gwendolyn, students knew prior to two weeks that they were not likely to graduate. I also find it hard to believe that students who can’t pass an achievement test after 8 tries are going to be offered a scholarship. If that is the case, then the odds of them succeeding in college is slim. I, also find it highly unlikely that the students weren’t given the materials and all the opportunities they needed to pass the OAT. Just because a student didn’t learn something doesn’t mean that the teacher didn’t teach it or that the school didn’t give the student everything they needed to succeed. I’m sure parents and students are disappointed. Maybe this should be viewed as a lesson in life. It is unlikely that any employer is going to give an employee 8 chances to do something and when they fail each time, tell them that’s OK.By k
May 17, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
If you want to find out where to see how to become a superintendant and who mandates it go to http://www.ode.state.oh.us You can check up on state graduation requirements there too and find tools to study for the OGT. As for me, I can’t teach a student who doesn’t come to class. How do you expect them to pass the OGT if they aren’t there to learn? ALL of the DPS teachers I know are there for the students and go out of their way to help them. Students and parents need to step up to the plate. The students need to learn to be responsible for their own behavior. I think Mack is doing the right thing by being close to his family and he will be missed. Don’t be glad he’s gone until his replacement has been hired. You never know, it could be worse.By Buford
May 17, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
I don’t know when it happened - but at some point we started believing failure or lack of progress by students in high school, was primarily reflective on teachers and classroom instruction. I don’t think that is correct. At least for DPS, the problem settles closer to student effort/attendance/homework/parental support and direction. Without those commitments, I suspect some kids just would not make it - no matter where they attend school.By Mary
May 17, 2008 6:47 AM | Link to this
“k”, are you sure NCLB actually stipulates the requirements for superintendents? I am a little skeptical. I would believe something might have been put into Ohio Revised or Administrative Code to protect the superintendents’ “trade association”, limit competition, and help jack up their salaries, but not NCLB.By Madison
May 16, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
In response to Gwenolyn: You stated that teachers aren’t sending books home. Most likely, a book was sent home but never made it home because kids don’t always give things to their parens. Also, it is the parents, teachers, and students responsibility to get the students prepared. A teacher is not the only person that is responsible when a student fails a test.By former ICS parent
May 16, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
Gwendolyn, The crisis you describe was not created by Mr. Mack, it was created by the students. They’ve known for years that passing the OGT is a requirement for graduation. Sounds like they’re not ready to graduate. Pushing them out of the school system to soothe their (and your) anxiety isn’t a good solution. They need to demonstrate the level of learning required to hold a high school diploma. That’s what “no child left behind” is about—ensuring that every child receives a proper education. For some, this might require more than eight semesters of secondary education. The test isn’t stopping them from graduating and continuing on with their future; their failure to pass the test did that. Rather than trying to build a case for 280 exceptions, maybe you should organize some kind of study group to tutor/help these kids earn what they’re seeking.By lou
May 16, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
When they first called the students down and they were crying I felt sorry for them. Then I thought about it. How many went for tutoring that we offered free, during school hours? Not many. They thought they would just run the halls. How Many came for help? Not many. How many went to community tutoring? Not many. The ones that did are the ones that passed. You have 8 chances to pass the test. I have students with special needs. They went to the tutoring, they asked for help, they came to class ready to prepare for the test and practiced test taking skills. Guess what? A lot of them passed. Feel sorry for the student, NO. I feel sad that they thought that somehow the test did not matter. A life lesson that will affect the rest of their lives and the community they come from.By Gwendolyn
May 16, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Well TB, All of the children are being responsible for their learning actions and yes there are other options available to to them to graduate according to the Martin Law. Its not about whining to get what they want they have earned the right to graduate some have full scholarships that await them but because of lack of expertise in one area of learning they are being penalized.Also some of the children have taking advantage of the free tutorials available and those children have failed also so it is lesson of the real world when some of the teachers should be held accountable also. I’m not trying to argue that Mr.Mack didnt do his job here but there is still something that needs to be fixed before he leaves these children in Ohio.Its very sad to see these children who have worked hard all year to be disappointed two weeks before graduation.By Red
May 16, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Mr. Mack is a nice man, just not good for what Dayton City Schools needs. He felt they were making progress and had an unrealistic view of the situation. The schools are a mess and he was part of the reason why.By TB
May 16, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Gwendolyn, At what point are the students held responsible for their own education? We are not talking about 10-12 year olds. We are talking about 17, 18, 19 year olds who are old enough to vote, drive, work, etc. Surely they should be held accountable. They are well aware of the fact that if they don’t pass they don’t graduate. We baby our students way too much. They begin taking the OGT in the 10th grade. By graduation time they have taken the same portion of the test 6 times. Practice tests are available online at the ODE website. There are also several organizations within the city that tutor students, many free of charge. Students joke around thinking that it won’t happen to them. If they whine a cry about it someone will let them slip through. This is their first lesson in LIFE….welcome to the real world.By K
May 16, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
As a DPS high school teacher I know what happens with OGT. I teach an OGT subject. There is a way to graduate if you don’t pass the OGT. If your other classroom grades are high enough, and your attendance good enough, a student can still graduate without passing the OGT. Usually if a student fails an OGT test it is due to poor attendance. All schools offer tutoring for the OGT, and so does the urban league. Usually students who fail have not taken advantage of these opportunities. Not to mention all of the free resources the schools hand out and the tools available on the ODE’s website. Look at what a student has done, before you blame the district or it’s teachers.By k
May 16, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
I am a DPS teacher. In response to Mary, a superintendant must have a degree and license as a superintendant. They must have so many years experience in the classroom as well as a principal in order to be a superintendent. The board is made up of business and community people. They have to replace the superintendant with an educator, No Child Left Behind says so.By Barb
May 16, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
Please realize that for a child not to pass a portion of the test they had to score between a 40 and 50% depending on the test. In any school that is failing. Unfortunately too many people think that the score to pass is high. It is in truth very very low.By null
May 16, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
Good Riddance!By Gwendolyn
May 16, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Congratulations to Mr.Mack but before he leaves DPS I hope that he takes care of the crisis that is happening to the children in the district right now.There are 280 high school seniors that will not be able to graduate because of failing a portion of the OGT test which has devastated everyone involved. I hope that you consider this as being a major concern since everyone says never leave a child behind. These children have made the effort by obtaining the required credits to graduate an this test is stopping them from continuing on with their future. Please assist us in helping our children to stay focused on their futures without being penalized for not knowing everything on a test that they weren’t properly taught to learn without sending books home to study. A concerned parent.By Mary
May 16, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
Maybe the board should consider hiring someone locally from a less traditional route - someone from business, non-profit, or government. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t, but the same holds true for those hired from the traditional educational pool of resources.