MiddletownJournal.com

When Steve Price arrived at Middletown schools in 2002, the district was rated Academic Watch on the state report card and had a performance index score of 71.4.

Five years later, the district has moved one designation forward to Continuous Improvement and the performance index score, the state's measure of test performance across all grades, climbed to 82.5, a 15.5 percent increase.

Five years later, Middletown City Schools also is completing a $75.8 million bond issue that district residents passed in 2003.

Five years later, Middletown City Schools has the highest number of black teachers in the county. Black teachers made up 6.2 percent of the Middletown teaching staff in 2005-06, nearly double that of any other local school, according to the Ohio Department of Education.

Five years later, Superintendent Steve Price, a doctor of education, has completed five years with the district — the average tenure for a superintendent today, according to the Ohio School Boards Association — and the board of education has extended his contract through 2011.

When Price came on board in 2002, board members were searching for a candidate to meet expectations in four primary areas of concern: diversity, facilities, student achievement and stability of the district's top educator position.

Having stability and longevity in the superintendent position can increase student achievement, said board President John Venturella.

In a study by the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning in 2006, researchers found that district leadership does affect student achievement and that superintendent tenure is correlated with student achievement.

Board members approved a contract extension for Price Sept. 24, more than 10 months before his current contract expired. Price's contract calls for a decision from the board one year before its expiration, something that is common for schools districts, said Rob Delane, superintendent search consultant for the Ohio School Boards Association.

"The superintendency is a tough job and you hope you're making friends all the time, but sometimes that doesn't happen," he said. "To have the support of the BOE and for a contract to be renewed in advance, I think, says something very positive about the superintendent."

As an urban district, Middletown has a student population with large numbers of students who are considered economically disadvantaged or are students with disabilities.

"These needs are manifested as barriers to learning and, if unattended, may prevent students from achieving at high levels," Price wrote to the board in a recent report. "I have never allowed these barriers to become excuses for low student performance, however."

Middletown city schools' population of economically disadvantaged children has increased by 74 percent during Price's tenure.

Price is given goals from the board each year upon which he is evaluated by board members. Price is also given performance incentive goals each year. He can earn an incentive of up to 6 percent his annual salary of $121,318 for meeting goals, according to his contract.

During Price's tenure, these goals have consisted of objectives such as raising the performance index score, meeting higher numbers of indicators on the state report card, passing tax issues or establishing professional development communities for instructional staff. In the 2005-06 school year, Price met three of four goals, earning a performance incentive of 4 percent out of a possible 5 percent, according to his personnel file.

The board evaluates Price each year, and he has received high ratings consistently for promoting race relations in the community, areas of responsibility, business and finance and personal qualities. There are three categories of rating in Price's evaluation for 2002 to 2006 — unsatisfactory, satisfactory and commendable.

Price has consistently received ratings of about 5 to 6 on a scale of 10 for developing good staff morale, loyalty to the organization and encouraging two-way communication with staff.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2805 or mgildow@coxohio.com.