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‘The days of long tenures are over,’ principal says

Price inspires rants or raves from those he worked with as school chief.

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

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By Rick McCrabb, Staff Writer Updated 7:11 AM Friday, June 5, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Seven years after Steve Price was hired as superintendent of the Middletown City Schools District, community members either gave him an “A” or “F.”

On Thursday morning, the board voted 4-0 on a separation agreement and Price, hired for the 2002-03 school year, offered his resignation at the meeting as part of the agreement.

Price’s last day with the district will be July 31, which, depending on your point of view, either will be a day of celebration or a day of mourning.

Dr. Mark Frazer, school board president when Price was hired, said he was “sad to see” Price leave the district.

He praised Price for fighting hard to improve test schools, adding stability to the district, embracing diversity and building elementary schools.

“I’m thankful for the service he provided,” Frazer said. “His dedication can not be questioned.”

Cathie Mulligan, retiring this year as principal at Fenwick High School, worked with Price on the citizens advisory board at Miami University Middetown.

She wasn’t’ “shocked” by the separation agreement because most superintendents only last about four or five years.

“The days of long tenures are over,” she said, because “the world is a lot more complex today than it ever was.

“There are more problems, different family problems.”

New superintendents, she said, typically provide new perspective and new energy, at least for a while.

“Then,” she said, “it’s time to pass the torch.”

Dora Bronston, president of the NAACP, said she was “very disappointed” to hear Price was leaving the district, said she believes he was “forced out.”

She said Price brought “a major piece to Middletown” through his equity and diversity initiatives and was impressed by Price’s ability to face “race issues.”

She’s concerned those advancements made by Price may not be continued by the next superintendent.

“Until we get past race, Middletown cannot grow,” she said.

When asked about Price’s downfall, Bronston said he “stepped out too boldly on issues that stepped on peoples’ toes.”

Jackie Phillips, director of nursing for the city of Middletown, praised Price for his “bold and good work” in the school district.

She said Price frequently attended community events and school functions.

She hopes Price’s diversity plan doesn’t “fall flat.”

“He constantly pressed forward,” Phillips said.

Ann Mort, a school board member and president in the mid-1980s, said “it was time for a change.” She said Price didn’t have the support of his staff and community.

“He lost that somewhere along the way,” she said.

Harvey Poff, who recently wrote a letter to the editor critical of the district’s disciplinary policy, said Price’s intentions were good, but his method was incorrect.

“He was kind of got tangled in his own spider web trying to achieve his goals,” he said. “Things fell apart.”

Bishop Rudy Pringle said the “greatest thing” Price accomplished was his “fight for diversity.”

He said Price was given three goals, and he accomplished all three.

Doug McNeill, chief executive of Atrium Medical Center, said he was surprised to hear of Price’s departure.

“I like him personally and I know it is a very difficult position to assume. I wish him the best and thank him for all of his work. Whoever the next incumbent is, we are ready to work with (that person).”

Pearlie Jemison, a 1948 MHS graduate, said she has sent eight children through the district and she called Price “a wonderful” superintendent.

Price was easy to talk to and was “straightforward,” she said.

Jemison, who said several of her relatives teach in the district, praised him for his work passing school levies, building new elementary schools and recruiting and hiring more minority teachers and administrators.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.

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