In a split vote, Rick Williams on Monday was named president of Cincinnati's board of education for a third time. His task this year may be his biggest yet.

        Mr. Williams, president of the Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati, will be at the helm as the board proceeds with a $1 billion plan to rebuild the district's crumbling schools. The plan that was unveiled last week includes renovating 32 school buildings, building 34 new schools and closing 20-plus others.

        While the district has enough money to begin the rebuilding effort, $500 million more will be needed to finish the project over the next decade. District officials say a bond issue will be necessary within the next few years.

        As president, Mr. Williams will be out front as
the board tries to sell the plan — and its cost — to the public, while continuing to focus on academic reforms. The board begins its first of 12 public sessions today to hear what the community thinks of the massive rebuilding project, said to be the biggest in the district's history.

        Mr. Williams, who joined the board as an appointee in May 1999 and then was elected in November 1999, has said he supports the plan and wants CPS students to have state-of-the-art facilities.

        In a brief speech Monday, he highlighted some of the accomplishments the district

        made in the past two years, but acknowledged there's more work ahead.

        “We are now out of academic emergency on the state report card,” he said. “We have more money than ever directly follow ing the student.”

        He said, however, that the district needs to improve academic achievement, and he recognizes the importance of fiscal responsibility.

        “We will remember,” he said, “that when the money follows the student, it is actually how that money is spent that impacts that student.”

        The board for the second year was split 4—3 on its decision to name Mr. Williams president.

        John Gilligan, Sally Warner and newcomer Melanie Bates voted for him, while Florence Newell, Catherine Ingram and Harriet Russell opposed his presidency. Mr. Williams cast the final vote in his own favor to give him the win.

        Ms. Russell said she had supported Dr. Newell for president because it was time for a change.

        Ms. Warner was named vice president in the same 4—3 split.

        The board on Monday also thanked Lynn Marmer for her eight years on the board. Ms. Bates replaced her.

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