By Jennifer Mrozowski
Enquirer staff writer

Cincinnati Schools Superintendent Alton Frailey said Friday he supports the district's renewal levy on the November ballot, but that the school board's public criticisms of him have made it difficult to effectively campaign for it.

"The board voted to put this on the ballot and I am supporting the levy," Frailey said. "My concern is that all the activities engaged in by individuals to negatively impact my credibility in the community is going to have to stop or I can't be as effective."

Until Friday, Frailey had been silent on whether he backs the $65 million, five-year renewal and said he was surprised when a board committee in March began planning to place it on the ballot.

Board member Catherine Ingram said she agrees that some board members have made unnecessary negative statements about Frailey. But Ingram, the board's finances chairwoman, said that the superintendent and board should "cease and desist" with their public fights.

"The rotten apples are starting to spoil the barrel," she said. "It's starting to trickle down. Taking sides won't create an environment where children will achieve academically."

Ingram said the battles jeopardize the levy, which she said is critical to continue gains in student achievement.

Some board members have wondered for months whether Frailey supports the levy. That curiosity heightened after two board members in March said they would campaign against the levy unless the board gave the superintendent more authority to do his job and made other changes.

In an Aug. 19 memo, board President Florence Newell demanded to know Frailey's stance on the levy. In response, he said he needs full support of the board members because some of their criticisms run the risk of harming his credibility and his ability to campaign.

Newell could not be reached for comment.

If the levy fails, Ingram said, the district would have to cut $32.5 million from the 2005-06 school budget and cut a total of $65 million annually after that.

The owner of a home valued at $100,000 now pays $299 for the levy.

In an Aug. 20 memo to Newell, Frailey said statements and actions against him by the board don't improve the district's chances to pass the renewal.

He cited statements board members made in an Enquirer story in which they expressed their growing impatience with him over his ability to complete tasks, such as securing a new performance-based pay plan for teachers.

Frailey also cited another story about the district's budget overruns in which he said a board member blamed him for the district's recent financial challenges.

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E-mail jmrozowski@enquirer.com