Tuesday, May 25, 1999
Lebanon school leader: Work is done
BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — Robert Harvey began his career of more than 30 years in education by patching and tarring school roofs.
He was 16 years old, earning $1.50 an hour and getting a good summer tan while beginning to build on what would become his lengthy school retirement plan.
Mr. Harvey had no idea then he would be on his way to helping a school district repair its curriculum as superintendent of Lebanon City Schools.
Mr. Harvey, 50, announced his retirement from the district Monday, effective Aug. 12. He wants to leave on a good note, in a year when the district has passed a permanent improvement and operating levy.
The board of education is meeting tonight in executive session, when members are expected to discuss finding a replacement for Mr. Harvey by fall, said board President Katie Poitinger.
Mr. Harvey said he has no plans to seek an administrative post with another school district.
Started at the bottom
He has truly climbed the ladder in education, figuratively and literally.
During college, he worked as a custodian with the Akron City Schools, from which he graduated. He followed in the footsteps of his late father and grandfather, who also were custodians in the Akron district.
When he graduated college, he began teaching in the Akron City Schools, where he also was a guidance counselor, coach, assistant principal and principal.
After 25 years with the urban district, he became assistant superintendent with the Mentor school system near Cleveland, where he stayed for two years before coming to Lebanon.
“I guess to my credit and advantage, I've always worked for people who have encouraged me to move on and move ahead,” Mr. Harvey said. “I had a lot of people who encouraged me to grow and gave me opportunities to do those kinds of things.”
In his four years with Lebanon, Mr. Harvey said, he is especially proud of the changes he helped make to the curriculum and finances. He also helped the district develop a strategic plan, reduce class sizes, improve test scores and add computers to every classroom.
When he started, Mr. Harvey said, no money had been budgeted for technology.
Withstood critics
Such sweeping measures don't always go over well. Mr. Harvey and the district underwent some criticism when the changes were enacted, but he stands behind them.
“Things needed to be done in this district, and some tough decisions had to be made for this district to be able to move on,” he said. “Growth has been a challenge.”
The Lebanon City Schools have experienced almost a 40 percent increase in enrollment in the last decade.
“I never made a decision in this district that I didn't first consider what was in the best interest of the children ... and the school district,” he said.
Mrs. Poitinger said the district has been “enriched” because of Mr. Harvey.
“Our district is in great shape, and will move forward from (his tenure),” she said.
Mr. Harvey, who last year taught a class at Wilmington College, said he may later consider teaching at the college level. He also is considering entering politics, perhaps at the state level.
But for now, he's looking forward to spending time with his wife, Brenda, who is principal at Wilmington High School, and his two children, Lisa Muskoff of Stowe, Ohio, and son Scott of Lebanon.
“I still love my job. I love the administrative team I have here,” Mr. Harvey said. “There's some great people in this community.”
Fountain barricade will get dressing-up
True test of region's spirit on the horizon
City schools lay off 228 aides
Schools ahead of court on sexual harassment
Support sought for hotel-tax hike
Kentucky killer slated to die today
Low turnout expected for Ky. primary
Group wants tornado memorial
Patient won't feel a thing
Police training staff angry at director
Two more parishes to merge
D-Day for the Doyles
GET TO IT
Buses roll again in Butler Co.
Citizens collar criminals on Net
Cleves police take seriously graffiti aimed at two officers
Land offer for school criticized
Ohio auditor: Dayton schools face intervention
Ohio spends $16M more on Y2K woes
Anderson man pleads guilty to fraud
Fairfield gets a new police chief
Highway vote stalled by open-meetings complaint
Insanity defense changed to guilty
Jury to decide whether fired DHL whistle-blower made case
Kids' homemade science video wins top award
Landmark will be saved
Lebanon school leader: Work is done
Man, 61, injured in Feb. accident dies
Oxford native back home to lure travel
Six eligible to fill Kaiser's empty office
Traffic in Newport prompts complaints
TRISTATE DIGEST
Witness: Fight ended in death
