Board releases details of superintendent's separation agreement

Price's tenure longer than most, say Ohio School Boards Association official.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy Middletown City Schools Superintendent Steve Price.

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By Meagan Engle, Staff Writer Updated 7:10 AM Friday, June 5, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Board of Education and Superintendent Steve Price have reached a separation agreement ending Price’s seven-year tenure with the district.

The school board and Price began privately negotiating the terms of the agreement late last week, with the board citing policy disagreements as the reason.

“Sometimes the focus of the superintendent and the focus of the board aren’t in focus together,” said Scott Ebright, spokesman of the Ohio School Boards Association. “And that’s when you see something like this.”

Price’s seven years at the helm of Middletown is a longer tenure than the average superintendent, which Ebright said is commonly four or five years.

It’s even shorter at urban schools in Ohio, like Middletown, Hamilton or Dayton, with an average of 3.7 years, Ebright said.

Ebright said leaders of urban schools face unique challenges.

“I think you have those issues of poverty, the issues of homelessness, the issue of mobility,” he said. “What they have to do to keep kids in school and get them to graduate, that’s hard work.”

Details of the agreement

The separation agreement outlines a payment plan, which Ebright said is commonly included in separation agreements.

Price, who earned $125,634 in 2008, will be paid $10,417 a month until either he receives a superintendent contract from another school or for 12 consecutive months. If his new contract pays less, the district shall make monthly payments making up the difference for up to 12 months following his resignation.

The district will pay Price for a portion of his accrued and unused sick leave and all accrued and unused vacation days.

The separation agreement also calls for Price to cooperate in facilitating the transition of a new or interim until his last day, July 31.

During the following year, he must be available by phone to answer any questions from the board, new superintendent or treasurer, though he will not be compensated and will be held harmless from any claims or liability arising out of his answers.

It also bars him from making any changes to personnel or policies through July 31 without board approval.

Price’s career

When he was hired, Middletown was rated in academic watch and has now moved to continuous improvement.

McNeil said Price was directed by the board to focus on three priorities: raising the achievement levels of all students in the district, addressing the issue of diversity and addressing the district’s facility needs.

Price saw three consecutive tax measures each passed on the first ballot, including a bond levy that had failed two times prior to his arrival.

He oversaw the building of six new elementary school buildings and the renovation of two others.

But the superintendent had come under scrutiny in recent months for discipline problems in schools throughout the district and a race and equity program he’d implemented that encouraged the district’s teaching staff to have “courageous conversations” about race.

Price saw value in the program as a way to improve teacher-student relations in his diverse urban district and narrow the achievement gap between whites and other minority groups.

But the program drew criticism recently by some in the community and the district, despite contentions from Price and other school officials that it was producing results. Critics questioned the value and cost of program and whether the district should focus its efforts elsewhere.

Relationship with the board

Board members said a difference in opinion on policy led to the separation with Price.

“We just reached a point where we were better off if Dr. Price moved on. To do it amicable that agreement made sense,” said board member Marcia Andrew.

“If I had to describe it, I would say there was difference of opinion on policy issues,” Andrew said. “There really wasn’t any one thing that I can point to or any one issue.”

Board member Chris Fiora said: “I thought it was the right thing to do,” and referred further questions to the board vice president.

Board member John Sauter did not return a call seeking comment.

Although board members were short on details about their own votes, the last evaluation they did of Price’s performance in August 2008 — which rates him as satisfactory overall — reveals some of the board’s concerns.

The board commented that he is not regarded by the community as a leader in public education and the morale of the staff throughout the district seems very low.

On his relationship to the board, Price received an average 4.47 out of 9, with comments indicating there are some personality conflicts. The board said he could spend more time building relationships, he needs to continue to work on actively listening to other ideas and suggestions from the board or staff or community and should work with administrative staff to develop a cooperative, respectful working relationship with the board.

Search for a new superintendent

The school board will discuss how to proceed with a search for a new superintendent at its next meeting June 15, McNeil said.

The board will look at a time line on hiring and any consulting firms that will be used, and will at some point be looking for community input, McNeil said.

“I think we all definitely are on the same page there that we value community input at the appropriate time during our search,” she said. “That’s an important part.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or mengle@coxohio.com.

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