Tuesday, May 04, 1999
Assistant takes over at schools
West Clermont leader retires
BY CHRISTINE WOLFF
The Cincinnati Enquirer
UNION TOWNSHIP — Clermont County's largest school district is changing superintendents but not going far to tap a new leader.
The West Clermont school board appointed Assistant Superintendent Michael Ward to replace retiring Superintendent Dennis Devine. Mr. Ward takes over Aug.1.
The promotion will help ensure the district continues the progress it has made in recent years toward financial stability and raising student performance, said John Gray, West Clermont's board president.
“This was a very easy decision,” Mr. Gray said. “All the improvements we've seen — Dr. Ward worked hand-in-hand with Dr. Devine.... He's turned around the district.”
Mr. Devine, 57, joined West Clermont as superintendent 10 years ago, coming from Forest Hills School District in Anderson Township where he was an assistant superintendent. Mr. Ward, 53, also worked at Forest Hills — as an elementary school principal and director of curriculum — before joining West Clermont six years ago as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
They have led a growing district now enrolling 8,876 students. The 12-school district covers 54 square miles — most of Union Township and parts of Pierce, Batavia, Monroe and Ohio townships; and the village of Amelia.
The growth brought more college-educated parents into the once predominately rural area, increasing demand for college-preparatory courses.
In recent years, the district has:
• Raised graduation requirements, with students taking more English, math, science and social studies classes.
• Required seventh- through 12th-graders to keep higher grades to be eligible for extracurricular activities.
• Installed more than 2,000 computers for students.
In addition, class sizes were reduced, a strings musical program was added, and science labs upgraded.
“We've come a long way. We've added advanced placement courses and expanded offerings at the high schools and gone from minimal technology to cutting-edge technology,” Mr. Ward said.
Mr. Devine took over a district struggling financially and out of touch with its taxpayers. Residents consistently voted down tax levies to raise money for the schools. A bond issue and an operating levy that finally passed in 1994 had failed at the polls four times.
“Passing that made all the difference in the world to this district,” Mr. Devine said. “We built gymnasiums at the middle schools, auditoriums at the high schools, added classrooms, did roofing and asphalt repair. We've built a very strong ... team.”
The district today is financially sound — a renewal levy passed in 1997 with 74 percent of voters approving it.
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