School board officials said Friday they unanimously signed a resolution to boost his current $187,787 salary to $195,111.

"We commend him, because under his leadership - with the hard work of teachers, parents, students and others - we are making academic gains," said Florence Newell, school board president.

In the past year, Cincinnati Public Schools went from Academic Emergency to the higher ranking of Academic Watch. The district of 39,000 students performed better in all of the state's 18 Report Card indicators.

Yet many of the district's 79 schools are still struggling with low state designations: 26 schools are in Academic Emergency, compared to 37 the year before, and seven are in Academic Watch, compared to 20 the year before.

Twelve schools merited the state's highest designations of Excellent and Effective, up from five the year before.

Cincinnati met state goals for attendance, at 94.8 percent, but its graduation rate of 61 percent fails to meet the state's standard of 90 percent. The state average graduation rate is 84 percent.

The raise is a sign the board and Frailey have overcome some of the strain that from communication mix-ups and conflicts. Newell and board member Melanie Bates said those issues were not as important as academic progress.

One parent, Donna DeStefano of the Northside neighborhood, said Frailey's sometimes troubled dealings with the teachers union is important. "Let's do whatever we can to have more competent and compassionate teachers," she said.

Frailey was out of town Friday and could not be reached for comment.

E-mail damos@enquirer.com