Cincinnati's new superintendent has a track record for getting bond issues passed.

        That's welcome news to volunteers and parents of Cincinnati Public Schools who are campaigning for a $480 million bond issue on the Nov. 5 ballot. The bond issue would help finance the largest school construction project in the city's history — a $1 billion plan to build 35 new schools and renovate 31 others over the next decade.

        “There is a lot of excitement about the new superintendent,” said Mark Turner, president of the bond issue campaign group Cincinnatians Active to Support Education. “Hopefully we can use that in generating interest in the bond issue.”

        Alton Frailey, assistant superintendent of Spring Branch Independent School District in suburban Houston, was introduced as Cincinnati's superintendent Friday. Board members approved the hiring in a 7-0 vote.

        Supporters and colleagues of Mr. Frailey in Texas said he was instrumental in the passage of a $250 million bond issue at Spring Branch.

        And as a board member in the neighboring Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Mr. Frailey helped convince voters to pass two bond referendums that totaled more than $730 million.

        Since Steven Adamowski left the CPS superintendent's job in August, many district officials and corporate leaders have emphasized the role the district's next superintendent must play in winning passage of November's tax increase.

        Some openly worried that the departure of Mr. Adamowski, whose reforms and business-like approach benefited the district , could threaten the tax bond issue. Mr. Adamowski left in August to teach at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

        On Friday, CPS Board President Rick Williams said Mr. Frailey's success in working on successful bond-issue campaigns attracted the board, but it was not the deciding factor.

        Mr. Frailey was selected, Mr. Williams said, for his ability to oversee schools with high student achievement and collaborate with community members, teachers and parents — not simply to fill the position in time to campaign for the bond issue.

        “But it does help the campaign absolutely to have that person identified. Then there's no sense for the voting public that the district is in transition,” Mr. Williams said.

        School officials in Texas say this district is lucky to have Mr. Frailey.

        “He is a strong leader,” said Gwen Francis, former Spring Branch board president.

        “He will sell the community on your levy. Our levy passed 67 percent. He played a big role in that.”

        Mr. Frailey said he's already behind the campaign.

        “This community is very committed to having proper facilities for our students,” he said at the news conference that announced his hiring.

        “It's very important we have adequate facilities for our kids. I think that sends the message to them of how much they are valued. I look forward to working with the community.”

        Mr. Frailey's start date has not been determined but he suggested he'll be on the campaign trail soon.

        “The vote, I believe, is Nov. 5. Correct?” he said to reporters.

        “You will see me between now and then.”

        He could be a big draw for campaign events, Mr. Turner said.

        Mr. Turner said the unanimous vote by the often-split board is important because it shows the district is unified behind the new leader.

        Some community leaders had worried that Mr. Adamowski's departure lent an air of uncertainty in the 42,000-student district that might spell trouble for passage of the bond issue.

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