HAMILTON — Four months after President Bush brought national attention to Hamilton High School, the school played host Tuesday to Gov. Bob Taft, who paid tribute to Hamilton Schools' academic progress.

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft laughs along with Janet Baker, superintendent of Hamilton City School District, before Mr. Taft's speech commending Hamilton schools for progress made over two years. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        “You have shown your determination to leave no child behind,” Mr. Taft told nearly 400 students, teachers, business leaders and community members. “You are getting the job done. Your progress has been remarkable.”

        President Bush chose the school for a bill-signing ceremony for his No Child Left Behind education package, and his entourage in January included Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.; Secretary of Education Rod Paige; Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H.; Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester; and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif..

        Sophomore Jordan Thompson said all the high-level attention is stunning.

        “I think it's amazing we've had so many people here. It's great because of how little we are,” said Jordan, who was part of the Concert Chorale group that sang “A Tribute to Heroes.” “Who else can we bring in?”

        In the past two years, the district showed more academic improvement than three-fourths of all Ohio school districts, according to the New Ohio Institute, a nonprofit policy research group. On the 2002 Ohio Report Card, the district met 15 of the 27 standards compared to 12 the year before and eight on the 2000 report card.

        And, the district improved its scores by more than 2.5 percent on 23 of the 27 standards. That accomplishment put Hamilton top among Ohio's urban school districts.

        Mr. Taft also praised the district for its strong participation in his OhioReads Initiative. He noted that Hamilton had more than 450 volunteers who served the district's 14 elementary schools.

        One volunteer in attendance for the governor's visit was Lindsey Cook, who is Hamilton High School's senior class president.

        “It's awesome. We've had the president. We've had the governor in charge of OhioReads here,” said Lindsey, 17. “Who could ask for anything more?”

        Besides increasing test scores, the district has embarked on a 10-year, $175 million school facilities improvement project and recently learned that Superintendent Janet Baker was one of two to receive the 2002 Ohio Superintendent Outstanding Performance Award from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.

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