Russ Mayo, associate superintendent, Little Rock School District
Little Rock School District MEMORANDUM RECEIVER To: Ann Brown, Federal Monitor From: Russ Mayo, Associate Superintendent Date: April 14, 1994 Subject: Our Meeting of April 8, 1994 APR 1 5 1994 Offica of Dasegrggaticn Monitoring This is a brief summary of our meeting last Friday, April 8, as I understood it. The meeting occurred as a result of your letter dated April 5, 1994. The primary concerns expressed in your letter related to the upper range limit for area elementaiy schools and the memorandum I sent to principals of five schools projected to be out of range for 1994-95. Items discussed were as follows: 1. Four Year Old Filing - You expressed concern about the lateness of the filing, about the naming of Stephens and Badgett as sites, and about the ambiguous last sentence in the paragraph explaining Geyer Springs. You suggested that we consider space remaining in buildings and demand. You suggested that we consider Dodd or Meadowcliff as sites. You noted that these questions will delay the response to the filing. You would like to hear from me on these questions. 2. Elementary Racial Balance - You said that ranges were guidelines and not quotas. You also said that ODM has never said that we were out of compliance. You said that ranges published in our Student Assignment Handbook are incorrect regardless of the method. Melissa will meet with Julie Wiedower and Sue Pedersen to address this and other errors 3. 4. 5. 6. in the handbook. You disagreed with our removing the numbers of the original six magnets when calculating the racial ranges. We agreed to base range calculations on October 1 figures. I explained the memorandum sent to five schools freezing their enrollment of whites. Projections show them out of the acceptable range. This does not prohibit attendance zone students from enrollment. You believed that this discourages whites from coming into the district. In support of this position, Chris said that the plan states that I can make no assignment that will knowingly put a school outside of the acceptable range. Magnet Shadow Zone Question - You said that you were glad that I corrected the method of calculating the number of seats for the shadow zone. The 25% Shadow Zone seats come from the capacity before allocating seats to districts. In the past, they were part of the LRSD allocation. Dunbar Magnet - You emphasized that Dunbar is a magnet school, not simply a magnet program. Someone in the Student Assignment Office is treating it as a program. Central and Hendersen are clearly programs within a school. You expressed concern about the Gifted and Talented program being predominantly white. Educational Park - You suggested that we consider an educational park involving Mitchell, Dunbar, and Gibbs. Their convenience to each other allows for such, you said. Interdistrict School Policy Filing - You objected to the limited consideration for LRSD whites within this policy. Why a maximum of 9% seats for whites? I explained thatAnn Brown, Federal Monitor April 14, 1994 2 PCSSD has a responsibility for participating in the interdistrict schools by sending whites to help us. I also told you that the county students bring us money. You suggested that we consider submitting an amendment to the policy to permit more LRSD whites. 7. King Interdistrict School Magnet Status - You asked where we were on this and suggested that something be submitted soon. You implied that you thought it may grow more difficult to achieve the status if we wait too long. Chris said that he made a request for information of Principal Sadie Mitchell a few weeks ago. She submitted it to Estelle Matthis for approval. Chris has placed a reminder call. You reemphasized the need to file soon. I will call you by phone with responses to your concerns. C Dr. Henry P. Williams, Superintendent Qiris Heller, LRSD AttorneyOffice of Desegregation Monitoring United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor 201 East Markham, Suite 510 Heritage West Building Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)376.6200 Fax (501) 3710100 Date: April 15, 1994 To: From: Subject: Russ Mayo Brown Comments on your summary of our April 8, 1994 meeting Today 1 received your memorandum summary of the April 8, 1994 meeting between Chris Heller, Melissa Guldin, Bob Morgan, you, and me. 1 want to clarify, below, some of the points you chose to address as your understanding of the discussion. However, 1 want to first point out that 1 do not intend for us to routinely engage in this type of post-meeting correspondence. Since we verbally summarized the "to do" points of our meeting at its conclusion, 1 fail to see the necessity for trading follow-up memoranda. On the other hand. your memo reveals some misunderstandings that trouble me. If necessary, 1 will make arrangements for a stenographer to be present in the future so a meeting transcription can speak for itself, leaving us time we can devote to something other than creating paper trails. Since you concluded your memo by saying that you will phone your responses to my concerns, 1 believe that verbal communication should ordinarily suffice for other types of information exchange as well. A. Concerns expressed in my April 5, 1994 letter were for the errors in both the lower and upper range of the racial balance guidelines for secondary schools printed in your Student Assignment Handbook, not only for the upper range for elementary schools as stated in your memo. B. During our discussion of the LRSD filing to add four-year-old programs, 1 asked why certain schools had been selected (such as Badgett and Stephens) and others excluded (such as Dodd and Meadowcliff, although 1 acknowledged that limited space at Meadowcliff might made additions difficult there). 1 named these schools as examples, not an exhaustive list. My questions regarding Stephens were more specific, focusing on the incongruity of the proposal with three highly relevant factors: (1) very low enrollment in the schools single four-year-old class
(2) the districts intention to propose a motion that would essentially substitute Washington for Stephens to satisfy settlement terms
and (3) uncertainty about the future of Stephens. 1 asked about the criteria the district used in naming the proposed sites for new or expanded four- year-old programs. You explained that someone else had made the placement decisions and that you were not certain why specific sites were selected.April 15, 1994 Page Two C. 1 strongly disagree with your characterization of my remarks regarding compliance with racial balance guidelines. I stated that the Circuit Court has termed racial balance ranges as guidelines, not quotas. 1 stressed that, therefore, ODM has avoided using the term out of compliance" in regard to target racial balance. However, we have repeatedly pointed out that a large number of schools do not lie within the target range. Semantics in no way excuse the district from striving to operate its schools within the specific target ranges set forth in the plan and court orders. My concerns included that the LRSD Student Assignment Handbook (1) contains ranges for secondary schools that are either mathematically incorrect or based on unknown or faulty enrollment figures
(2) that the Handbook range for elementary schools directly conflicts with that named in the desegregation plans. We discussed ODMs 1993-94 School Racial Balance Monitoring Report, filed January 12, 1994, to which the LRSD had not responded. The report is clear about how we calculated racial balance ranges based on specific plan provisions and October 1 enrollment figures. Yet the LRSD Handbook contains racial balance guidelines that conflict with those in the report. Part of my concern is that you are issuing directives about student assignments based on erroneous racial guidelines and, thereby, excluding children from their assignment zone schools. Im aware that the plan provides for the district not to make assignments that promote racial unbalance, but you continue to sidestep my primary point. My prevailing concern about your approach to student assignments remains is as 1 have repeatedly expressed it: manipulating ranges and freezing enrollment for certain groups of children amounts to taking the easy way out. Instead, the districts overriding obligation is to live by its espoused voluntary desegregation credo by consistently, energetically, and early-on carrying out the tough recruitment job to which the district has committed itself, but nevertheless continues to botch year after year. Recruiting to voluntarily move students in and out of schools is a big key to success. Another is returning children to their zoned schools after their families have moved, and I was pleased that you had issued a memo dealing with this assignment aspect. 1 also stressed the importance of your following through on the disaggregation of student assignment data that Bob Morgan had begun. 1 inquired about progress on the assignment study James Jennings is conducting, but received no clear answer about a finish date nor any indication of the who, what, when, and how" of district plans for using this information to make important and pressing changes. D. Im pleased that you have modified some magnet school shadow zone assignments after Melissa Guldin brought a problem to the attention of Student Assignment. However, the issue concerning ODM was not the one you expressed in your memo. Melissa became aware that the district had been allotting less than 25^ of kindergarten seats to shadow zone students at Williams. Although the district has now increased the number of kindergarten shadow zone seats to 15 at Williams, which is 25% of the available K seats, this number will not be sufficient to continue meeting the schoolwide requirement. SAO must also develop a system to add shadow zone seats at the first and fourth grades (when class size increases) and to place new shadow zone students in the school when others move out.April 15, 1994 Page Three E. The educational park idea stems from my suggestion that the district consider the feasibility of a new relationship between Dunbar, Gibbs, and Rightsell (not Mitchell as your memo stated), because the three schools are so close to each other. The federal government is significantly increasing magnet school grant dollars and the district needs to investigate how to take advantage of those new dollars. F. Regarding the filing on King intradistrict transfers, I have always understood PCSSDs responsibility for interdistrict desegregation, and am fully aware that M-to-M student transfers provide money for both the sending and receiving district. During the meeting, 1 hope Chris, my staff, and 1 clarified for you that funding for magnet school students is different from that of M-to- Ms, and that it does not "cost you money" in the M-to-M sense to "lose" a student from a magnet. Our concern was that the filing did not adequately take into account the issues raised in the Courts February 4, 1994 Order. Moreover, the districts new policy sets a highly restrictive precedent, severely limiting the number of white students you will allow yourself to place in your own interdistrict schools. Such a move cuts you off from a valuable tool for addressing racial balance challenges, such as burgeoning white enrollment in certain schools. The Court invited you to shape policies that would allow you to use voluntary intradistrict transfers to take advantage of the white enrollment in areas where you are now freezing white students out of their attendance zone schools. CC: Hank Williams Chris HellerQ , LROP ADMIN. BOLDING Fax:1-501 'd-2032 Feb 36 Id: Co p, 02'O: Litfle Rock School District Dr, Mayo Named Finalist February 9, 1996 For more information: Suellen Vann, 324-2020 Dr, Russ Mayo, .Associate Superintendent of the Little Rock School District (LRSD), has been named as one of two finalists for the Superintendent position in Greenwood, Soutii Carolina. Dr. Mayo has served the Little Rock District for almost three years. Dr. Mayos announcement comes at the same time that Little Rock Superintendent, Dr. Henry P. Williams, is being considered as one of three finalists for the Superintendent position in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Mayo's recruitment for the South Carolina position began several weeks ago, prior to word of Dr. Williams' selection as a finalist in St. Louis. The Greenwood, South Carolina school district has an enrollment of approximately 9,000 students. The district includes nine elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools, one alternative school, and one vocational school. Both finalists for the Greenwood superintendency will be scheduled to return to that district for another interview later this month. 810 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (.501)324-2000Office of Desegregation Monitoring United States District Court Eastern District of Arkansas Ann S. Brown, Federal Monitor 201 East Markham, Suite 510 Heritage West Building Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)376-6200 Fax (501) 371-0100 February 14, 1996 Dr. Russ Mayo Little Rock School District 810 West Markham Street Little Rock, AR 72201 Dear Russ: In an Order dated July 10, 1992, the Court adopted the recommendations of ODM which were contained in the Incentive Schools Monitoring Report of June 1992. On page five of that report, we recommended that the district "Identify the factors that are working to make Rockefeller a desegregated school and adopt or adapt them for the other incentive schools." Tlie same recommendation has appeared in subsequent ODM monitoring reports, and has also been discussed by Judge Wright during hearings. As the district is poising itseif to consider changes in the desegregation plan, and perhaps particularly in the incentive schools, it seems especially important that we know the results of the districts analysis of the factors that have worked to desegregate Rockefeller. Therefore, please immediately forward to me the results of the districts identification of the Rockefeller success factors. Also explain how the identification process was conducted, including when it was undertaken, who participated in it, the analysis criteria and methods used, and how the results have been applied to the other incentive schools. Thank you very much for your assistance. Sincerely yours, ! Ann S. Brown cc: Hank Williams Chris Heller503')8/90 tt
51 03148862171 COUnKBlA SCE ADS Cofumbia Soard of Education (S(fl WsfjEyStreet * C'deaUu ^6523^ 77Ui7l FOS IMMEDIATE RSLSASE 'late : Coatact
March 19, 199*5 Me(ZV L. Hantgee ii (5.73) 374-8571 ir .,f Coluiribia, CoXuwbxa Public School.n Superintendtep Saxch: MCh-It is our pleasvce this mcrning ho ajip.ounce the j
.. jBoob/aoa I I I i I I !. 4 I Appointment of Dx. Rusaeli Mayo as the .lew vapei ir.csndent of the Co.i.iMt)ia Public Schools by unaaiacvs vote o.f the Board. .C(orttrsct will begin July 1, 1936. Dr. Mayos Dr. Mayo, whc is ctSMAntly associate :upe'!:inteRdent in Little Fock, Arkansas, A district of 000 ptuclsr.ts, aarned hj.s ria.sters dec/res and doctorate at the University of Vircrinia in C.hs-.lctte.sklle^ Hj.s varied and muitifaceted experience in. education includes Classrooin teaching, set vice as a building actoiciatrator at hG 1 un 5.(11 r sertiax high, and riiddle school levels, high, and nine years as 3 district-' widt! adfiEin,! strator. Previous to his position in Little Rock, : .Arkans.as^ Or. Kayo a<&-rArd in school districts in Virginia and ' Syrscu^er New York. Ajaong tbs n.itny positive aspects the aoard has notwd, Dr. Ms'yo
i is a superior cewmcaiqater with retired interpeirsonal skills: who valpes, enjoya. and. seeks ongoing interaction with students. staff, at.d the conuiiunity. is conaaitted to manage human and fiscal resources astutely ah(d costeffectiivery in a period of funding litnitat.ions and unce'rtaint'v. . * values cultural diversity and will provide leadership for & pi'icgrfcssi'vc schcol systen. in its response to increastr-gly pluralistic conmuaity. 10 1 r,' a growing and 0Q10Tii WudH 0 'zoc. 1 b 1 c-0foa -'19/86 11-51 03148862171 COLUMBIA SCH .>Jt j'
|a00S/Ci03 has the ability and desir* to work with our dyramic. business coMiuurAxLy ir. fidv^ricxn^ "ch. highl^^ Education preg^r^ra. supportiT^ie s'UPcsssful ?aEtr.crs'i Th I understands and I instruct enibraces uech-io-roc^y In the iTrtprovsTne.-it *0-* on and sound utilization of humsn and fiscal respurteis has a background od intagritv, secure sensa of self, ,and the i stamina to naec the desr.ands o thia position while grow professionally. contiauing to The Beard belrev&s that Dr. Mayos experience has shown him to'b-s fi leader who creates a cc,i=oi<~i environir.ent which respects the ' individuality ot students and staff and sustains a cliaate of ! har.'oony, openness, and trust in which id^as, issutes, and differeeoes 0 I I 1 1 nay be advanced freei.y. exanined thoughtfully, and used
consirruct.ively to improve the Districts aerv.ice to childten. i 1 r I \ t. c-b. ' 1 I I !
0QT01 pJijdJ 1 6T d 3r TIMA i i- O'^ }. 'OU^PS /.wcF^^ mr Little Rock School District i For Immediate Refcase I March 19 199^5 For more information: Oiiana Keatbjpj-. 32.4-2408 Dt. Riiss Mayo Accepts Missouii Fositios} Mayo, Associate Superintendernt of ihs .Little Rod Sehcto! Disirct (LRSD), xs^as ranied. .3jperialo.K3e.ni of Columbia (Misseitri) Pub!ic Schixij.c hv
i^nirao^ vote V-0.) of its Bcaid, Mayo wjiJ assume &c position fill-tiine. on July 1 hse
tioiifted toe Little Rock School Board and LRSD Superintendent Hei3.ru WilEams. I, iMayo ua.', Signed a ihrwe-xeai' contact with an arinuai one ycsr extensicn 0014'' p. baUsfaciCiy evaiumron. His salary will iie $98,000, with bsnefits inebding a lar, a retneir -ri STiiittir', ant) jje iiisiraECc, Columbia is a dAtricl of 15-000 studeais. Twenty piarcein of its .stnden including Alrican-Aniarican, Asian, and Native Americac* iFh'tre are 2? schools and -.n
...... 1^500 cicpitiyeef. in the distiici. r-K
bui^et is just over $95 miUioft j>er vear. Sever pf tts schools liave been recognLted as Blue Ribbon Schools of Ex'Jellence 'oy the H. S. Depjytmerf of Bdixiitioc. Rsdlwok named Columbias HieJemtm HktH A ^.r< '1,..*..^ :nnp RscihooL -iamed Columbias Hickman High Schoo? one of Americas best , a natj'oaal consulting iiim Avhich prorides educailcn
,4: cnip^psttCijs, ranked CoiUEifcia Public Schools among the fop 9 percmx of all disffitn naiicii For two year.s, Expaasios Wtagazrae ranked die district ihn bast in Mii-jj".:? Ck'-mabia Schooi Dtstnet is not involved in oesegiTegation htisjatton S^hwlMatch. jotmation tc ilar^e ne The r _ Colmnbia b located half-way between St Lotus and Kansas Citi/. U L , / u,^: vniveisiry of Missouri and several coipoctite offices bdndiing State Fstm Insurance la rtceitt ^saiSu Mon^ iM^gaztue ii.gtcd Columbia as one of the most dasirabie pla':e,s to Live in the Hbited U is the home qf the Stares. ,, Upon Icaixing of Dr. Mayf''s appoincmerit, Little Rock School i^oard mctuber J^rdy iXlaipifiss Im. deli^:ted that Dr. Mayo >vill have a lupenrrtendencyj aud I knowhe wil!i4o a ^eat job iu Cohunhia. I miprticiiate the work he has done Iktc, perticnlarly in tenn.^ nf getting a It^die on our desegregation plan ana Iieiping us know clearly && j^tates of oia ohligatkias. , 810 tS t Atarthac? Street " Xllile Rock. ,4
rkancaF. 72201 rO'd 30 T ) : 1 .03/19/96 11:47 501 324 2023 LRSD COMMUNICATI ODM 0002/002 a r Little Rock School District For Immediate Release March 19, 1996 For more information: Deana Keathley, 324-2408 Dr. Russ Mayo Accepts Missouri Position This morning Dr. C. Russell Mayo, Associate Superintendent of the Little Rock School District (LRSD), was named Superintendent of Columbia (Missouri) Public Schools by unanimous vote (7-0) of its Board. Mayo will assume the position full-time on July 1, He has notified the Little Rock School Board and LRSD Superintendent Henry Williams. Mayo has signed a three-year contract with an annual one year extension pending a satisfactory evaluation. His salary will be $98,000, with benefits including a car, a retirement annuity, and life insurance. Columbia is a district of 15,000 students. Twenty percent of its students are minority including Afirican-American, Asian, and Native American. There are 27 schools and more than 1,500 employees in the district The budget is just over $95 million per year. Seven of its schools have been recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence by the U. S. Department of ^ucation. Redbook named Columbias Hickman High School one of Americas best. SchoolMatch, a national consulting firm which provides education information to large corporations, ranked Columbia Public Schools among the top 9 percent of all districts in e nation. For two years, Expansion Magazine ranked the district the best in Missouri. The Columbia School District is not involved in desegregation litigation. i Columbia is located half-way between St. Louis and Kansas City. It is the home of the University of Missouri and several corporate offices including State Farm Insurance. In recent years. Money Magazine listed Columbia as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. 1 a Upon learning of Dr. Mayos appointment, Little Rock School Board member Judy Magness said, Im delighted that Dr. Mayo will have a superintendency, and I know he will do great job in Columbia. I appreciate the work he has done here, particularly in terms of getting a handle on our desegregation plan and helping us know clearly the status of our obligations. o ###I I . i I I ? 1 I 1 t 1 I I I : ! i I I i I i i i I I j I i I 1' } ' I i I i I I I I !, j I ! > t i, i i I: f I I i I 1 i
I
I I I i I (h Calumbia Board of Eduction J" ii I i I . i
: FOi^i IMMEDIP.TE RSLSASE ate: j Gohtact: ( I I j ll> Stet Wsrii^ SfaS CiitiaUi, ftOfflU) (OT SMj?! . I , f N IJ
!
i I I : Columbia, I I i. I ! March 19, 1996 Marv L. Hantge (573)874-8571 s I I I 1 C^Xiuibla Public Schools Superintondiajsit Search [ I I ? i appointment
of Dr. MC>-It is our pleasure I I I i
! '} J J' thio morning to announce the Ji 'j ' Russell Mayo as the new superintendent i of tii" ' i ' ' ' " jCoiuzribia Public Schools by unanimous vote of the Board. icontract will begin July 1, { I 1996. I i J- I I Dr. Mayo-s
i ' ) i: i i tor.' .Mayo, who is currently associate superintendent'in little ROcik N i ' . . . . ' = I ? i [Arkansas, a ^district of 25,000 students, earned his-master's degreei! j ' ' I' ' land .doctorate at aarned his naster*s i the University of Virginia in CharIotte.STijtie^ M'S}, j {varied and raultifaceted experience in education includes class-coctni ' , I [ : i : ' J [ (teaching, service as a building administrator st the juni.ar hi^h ^senior high,r and middle schoci levels, iwide administrator. rator st I and nine years as a district-!-i Previous to his position in tittle Rock, I f : I i i I I i I I i i i I ! ! jArlcanaas, Dr
Kayo served in school districts in vitginia land. iSyi*s.<
nse, Mew York. ( ) I jAmong tbs raariy positive aspects the Board has noted, Dr. Mayo
' ' i I
I i I I i N
, r 1 r I: : is a superior ccmffiuniqator with refined interpersonal skills!who ! i r ' ' ' i valjues, enjoys, and seeks ongoing interaction with students, ' .and
the community.
.| ' I sjaff , I i 1 I ! i ' I r : 1 ! J I's conmitted to manage human and fiscal resources , astutely a<id
< I : i' jcos^-effectively in a period of funding limitations and uncertainty : I i i' I i , i : , I ' ' :
values cultural diversity and will provide leadjership for a p i J ) It. progressive school system in its response to a growing and I ' I increasingly pluralistic coamunity. ' I [' I. I I
i| i I I I i I ! } S0'd I i I i I 00T0T1Z 01 WOdd Wdi:t0 966T-6T-20 i i i I I I ( I I I i I IJ ' ,i I
! I I i ! : I , ! has the ability and dssi ! . i < i < I 1 I t isire to work with our dynamic, supporii-,^ advancing the highl^f succsasful Jartnord Ih I Education program. I I I I J uhdersLanris End embraces technology in the improvsaientcd J 1: i in^h^uction and sound utilization of huiaan and fiscal rsspuroeia. I : i I { I I I * background of integrity, a secure sense .of self istamina to meet the demands of thia position while continuing jtoi I Jand ,tjhe:! : i grpvf? professionally'. f i .5'6,1,''-' i
i' i r r I I' : ' * i ' ' pM :Board believes that Dr. Mayo's experience has shown him toj:b<s a ' ileader who creates a ccilsaial xrJ. environment, which'respects the * '.) j I Students and staff and sustains a climat^ <} i. j iharn^ny, openness, and trust in which ideas, issules, and differencesi jniay:be advanced freely, examined thoughtfully, and used f !constructively to improve the Districts sezrvice to-childten. a- -5
) I' i. A. 1, ! : ! ' i
' N ' I ! 1 i
t t i I . ! i I: I i ! i ! i , 1
i . { . t:
J J . i i i !' Si i i i. ]. ii 00T0T^L2 01 i
L i: 1! 1: :l I: '!!' i ! : 'I ' i
i' i- WdSZ!S3 966 T6113 r 1 I i ) I 1 i I 1 I { I I I I .< 1 : '. . i
I- ' ! 1 1 i I I : i I I
I } i I i } t ! j ! i ! L0' d J t 1 1 n PJOddH I ! t I
it . ( C Little Rock School District 1 I., |i. . I '! i :l i For Immediate Release i IMarch 19,199*5 For more informatioD: > i: Deana.Keathley, 324-240S L
i: I > i : t Dr. Russ Mayo Accepts Missouri Position 1 This morning Dr. C. Russell Mayo, Associate Superintendent of ths Little Rock School j Sisthet (LRSD), was named Superinteadent of Columbia (Misseuri): Public Schools By i daf^iraous vote (7-0) of its Board. Mayo will assume the position fctl-time on July 1. He has ] t^tified the Little Rock School Board and LRSD Superintendent Henry Williams i I i ! . Mayo fans signed a thxee-year contract with an annual one year extensicc pending a tetisfectory evaluation. His salary will be $98,0C0, with benefits including a car, a retirement ' J has ypar extensicD iaanidty, and life insurance. j j j Columbia is a district of 15,IWO students. Twenty percent of its students miitiority and Native American. ^Fhere ate 27 schools and more than
1^500 ^employees in the district The budget is just over $95 miliion per vear. Seven its ' ghoofe have been recogni2Bd as Blue Ribbon Schools of ExceUence hyithe' S, Dep^,mt of , ^w^ott Redbook named Columbias Hickman High School one of Arnicas best, ^ciKMlMatch, a national consulting firm which jarovides educaiicn inibrmation tc ilaige boiporatioua. ranked Columbia Public Schools among the top 9 percent of all districts ih the ^on. For two years, Expansion Magazisc ranked the district the bast in MissouriJ Tie P f^uisbia School Dtstnet is not involved in desegregation litigation, j infennation tc large ' ., : I Colnrabia is looted half-way between St. Louis and Kansas Cky. It is the home cjf the yinivesitj' of Missouri and several corporate ofiSces including State Pahn Insurance, _ _____ Money Magazine Ii.gtcd Colmnbia as one of the most d&sirable places to live in die Uhifeti ' States,, ! !. In recent ' .Upon learning of Dr. Mayos appointment, Uttie Rock School Board member body Vlagnes.said. I m dcliahted Msvn w,1( a supetintendencyr,) and I kaowihe willidb h innn jjj getting'a hr AhKa-afL'wie *1 li/ lylagi^s said, Im dchghted that Dr. Mayo will have g^at ^ob in Columbia. I qrpreciate the work he has done here, particolIy H 1' I^dlb pa our desegregation plan and helping us know cleatiy the status of oiir obligations. } - I- I I t I I. i I J i t I i I
1- I { , I I I 1 i i J I J '1- ' r J h
! ' J I I : I ### I } I j i J ' 810 West Markham Street Xittle iS^ck, Acktfjasas 72&01 ! (501)834.3000 i t r0-d 00TOT1'Z 01 WOdd !!. .1: i, I II . } I. I' Wd6:a3 366T-bT0 i I I 1I
03-10-96 11:47 501 324 2023 I.RSD COMVIMCATI OD'I 002 002 s Little Rock School District For Immediate Release Maxell 19, 1996 For more information: Deana Keathley, 324-2408 Dr. Russ Mayo Accepts Missouri Position Ihis morning Dr. C. Russell Mayo, Associate Superintendent of the Little Rock School District (LRSD), was named Superintendent of Coiumbia (Missouri) Public Schools bv unanimous vote (7-0) ot its Board. Mayo will assume the position full-tmie on Julv 1. He has notified the Little Rock School Board and LRSD Superintendent Henrv Williams. Mayo has signed a rhree-year contract with an annual one year extension pendin satisfactory evaluation. Hrs salary' will be S9S,000, with benefits including a car, a retire-annuity, and life insurance. Columbia is a district of 15.000 students. Twenty percent of its students are mine: including African-American, Asian, and Native American. There are 27 schools and more 1,500 employees in the district. The budget is just over $95 million per year, :seven of its schools nave been recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence by the U. S. Department of Educarion. Redbook named Columbias Hickman High School one of Americas best. SchooIMatch, a national consulting firm which provides education information to large corporations, ranked Columbia Public Schools among the top 9 percent of all districts in the nation. for two years. Expansion Magazine ranked the district the best in Missouri. The Columbia School Distnet is not involved in desegregation litieation, Columbia is located half-way between St. I ouis and Kansas Cite. It is the home of the University of Missouri and several corporate offices including State Farrrt Insurance. In recent years, .Money Magazine listed Columbia as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. Gpon learning of Dr. Mayos appointment, Little Rock School Board member .ludv Magness said, 1 m delighted that Dr. Mayo will have a supenntendency, and I know he will do a great job m Coiumbia. I appreciate the work he has done here, particularly in terms of getti handle on our desegregation plan and helping us know clearly the status of our obligations " V # 810 Vkest xMarkham Street I-Htk Rock./Arkansas 73201 (501)824-2000 03/18/98 11:00 J1 4SS621T1 DEC COLliMfllA .SCH AD.si I.MS 002 00l/002 1
Columbia Board of Education 1818 *tt Woh> Itrttt Colaoba, NO 4HS3 (JT3) bX'k immediate release Date: Contact March 19, 1996 Mary L. Hentges (573) 874-8.571 Coixiznisi* Vuljlic Schools Superinhondeirit Seax-oH ColuBXia, KO-lt is car pleasure this mcrnihg to announce the appointment f Dr. Russell Mayo as t.he naw superintendent o the Columbia Public Schools by unanimous vote of the Board, contract will begin July 1, 1996. Dr. Mayo's Dr. Mayo, Arkansas, who is currently associate superintendent in Little Rock, a district of 25,000 students, earned his Blaster's degree and doctorate at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, His varied and multifaceted experience in education includes classroom teaching, service as a building administrator at the junior high. senior high, and middle school levels, and ine years as a diatrict- wide administrator. Previous to his position in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Mayo served ifs school districts in Virginia and Syracuse, New York . Among the any posit' e aspects ths Beard has noted, Dr. Mayo
is a superior coirununicat' .. with refined interpersonal skills who values, e.njoys, and seeks ongoing interaction with students. staff. and the community. is committed to manage human s.'.d fiscal resources astutely and cost*effectively in a period of funainc limitations and uncertainty. values cultural diversity and Will provide leaaer.ship for a progressive school system increasingly pluralisti- rwspo.Tse to a growing and -unii y i'11: C-5 03/18/&S 1 00 5145882171 lEC COtVMBIl SCH AT)!>I 003 1^002 002 has the ability and desire to woik with our dynamiCr supportive business community in advancing the highly successful Partners in Education program. understands and embraces technology jn the improvement of instruction and souna utilization of human and fiscaJ resources, * has a baokgrouna of integrity, a secure sense of self, and the stamina to meet the demands cf this position while continuing to grow professionally. The Boara believes that Dr, Mayo's experience has shown him to be a leader who creates a collegial environment which respects the individuality ot students and staff and sustains a climate of harmony, openness, and trust in which ideas, issues, and oifferences may be advanced freely, examined thbughtfui.'.y, and used constructively to improve the District's service to children.I SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1996 No<r^'"l2RSDboss ^lsodob4iunting
posts ,'ir- BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer "While Little Rock Superinten- in early to mid-March. A final de- ' cision could be made in mid-to late March. The Richland County district includes 51 schools in rural and
, d^ Henry Williams was inter- ' Viewing for a job in Americas Gateway to the West St. Louis inner-city neighborhoods. Enroll- 7-
early this week, the districts ment is 74 percent black. " e second-in-command went east to doiihe same thing. Superintendent / i^^A^sociate v.. Rljss Mayo announced Friday 'that he is a top contender for two The other candidates are Don Henderson, the districts interim superintendent, and Joseph Johnson, associate superintendent of ^superintendents positions in public schools . in Winston- t. Sputh Carolina. His announce- miept comes at the same time Wniiams is being considered for superintendency in St. Louis. c<' -Xayo, 41, is one of two finalists liiihe Greenwood School District, oar^iversity town with a public (School enrol' enrollment of about 8,500. t?H&aiso is one of three finalists for the top job in the Richland Coun- .'^School District It has an enroll- ^ment of 27,000 and encompasses L Coiiunbia, the state capital. , .A.^reenwood is like a small Lit- tIe!."Rock without desegregation ^jil^ation or serious financial ", troubles, Mayo said. rr
- > , 3T3ie district has 16 schools, a 45 ' p^cent minority population, and i ' a.^ million budget. The town is ! home to a Fuji film plant, a Mon- . sitp Chemical Co. plant and tex tij and building supply compa- 'mes. : < Alan Zubay, superinten- of schools in Gainesville Ga., is- The other candidate for the ' Greenwood position. Both candi- will,return to Greenwood ^.f(5
5econd interviews Feb. 27. T-^chool board members will , visit each candidates home city . IC . Salem/Forsyth County, N.C. Mayo has worked in the Little Rock School District for about 2% years. He said he would be interested in becoming Little Rock superintendent should Williams take the St. Louis job. * - .? Im not fixed on leaving Little Rock, he said, praising the people he has met in the city. If Dr. Williams leaves I would certainly want to consider the superintendency here if the board were at all interested. i Id also want to know that the community, the business community and employees would be interested. Mayo called Williams one of his best friends. The two have worked together for a dozen years, beginning in Roanoke, Va., where Mayo was high school principal and a director of magnet schools and Williams was deputy superintendent. When Williams became superintendent of schools in Syracuse, N.Y,, Mayo followed him there to be director of business-school partnerships. Mayo earns $69,200 a year in Little Rock.__5L^as DcTiKKrat WOiazcKc TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 1996 I No. 2 man at LRSD eyes 3 jobs Latest post, in Missouri, pays at least $90,000 BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer Dr. Russ Mayo, the associate superintendent and second-in- command of the Little Rock School District, has once again been named a semifinalist for a superintendents job, this time in Columbia, Mo. Mayo, 47, is in the running for three out-of-state jobs. He announced last month that he is a finalist for superintendent positions in Greenwood, S.C., and in Richland County, S.C., j site of the states capital, I Columbia. Mayo interviewed for the Missouri job over the weekend and has been invited for a second interview later this week. He is the only one of six candidates in the running for the job to have a scheduled second interview. But Columbia School Board President Mary Hentges said other interviews will be scheduled later this month, after the districts spring vacation. The school board hopes to make a selection during the last week of the month, Hentges said. The position is expected to pay between $90,000 and $116,000, depending upon the candidates experience. The Columbia district has about 15,000 students. About 20 percent are black or of Asian ancestry. The city is the home of the University of Missouri as well as two other colleges. The former districts superintendent resigned in August 1995, citing health reasons. Currently, a deputy and assistant superintendent share the duties of running the school district. Mayo returned to Greenwood for a second interview last week and was in Columbia, S.C., for a second interview Monday, lie is one of two finalists in each of those districts. Mayo began work in Little Rock in October 1993. He moved here from Syracuse, N.Y., where he was a school principal and later director of business-school partnerships. He was hired in Little Rock by Superintendent Henry William^, who also moved here from Syracuse. Williams and Mayo have worked together for 12 years in three different school districts. Mayo earns $69,200 in Little Rock.Arkansas Democrat 'SB TUESDAY. MARCH 19, 1996 ER schools No. 2 man Expected to head north BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer . ,.,Dr. Russ Mayo, the Little Rock school districts associate super- , intendent and second-in-command, may soon acquire a new tide. 1- superintendent of schools InlColumbia, Mo. '.'-The Columbia School Board has scheduled a meeting with Mayo at 8 a.m. today and a news cohference at 8:30 a.m. to announce the selection of a new superintendent. -^.Neither Mayo nor Mary Hent- ^es, president of the Columbia board, would confirm Monday night that he was the boards Choice for the superintendency. But Mayo, speaking from a motel in Columbia, said that if the job is offered, he plans to accept it,-assuming a satisfactory contract is negotiated. The 15,000-student Columbia School District is in a city that is home to two colleges and the University of Missouri. The districts former superintendent resigned in.August 1995, citing health. A deputy superintendent and an as- s^tant superintendent are sharing the duties of running the district. Mayo, 47, first interviewed for the Missouri job March 2 and 3 and was invited back for a second interview later the same week. He was one of six finalists for the job but is believed to be the only one called back for a second interview. Hentges has said the board expects the new superintendent to earn $90,000 to $116,000 a year, depending on experience. Columbia was one of three superintendent jobs that Mayo was considering. In recent weeks he also has been a finalist for jobs in Greenwood, S.C., and Richland County, S.C., which includes Columbia, the states capital. Mayo, who hasnt been a superintendent before, began work in Little Rock in October 1993. He moved to Arkansas from Syracuse, N.Y., where he was a school principal and later director of business-school partnerships. He was hired in Little Rock by Superintendent Henry Williams, who also moved from Syracuse. Williams and Mayo have worked together for 12 years in three school districts. Mayo earns $69,200 a year. His salary and fringe benefits, including retirement contributions, , amount to $85,272.Arkansas Democrat WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1996 Mayo moving to Columbia, Mo. LRs associate superintendent will take top job in school district ! BY CYNTHIA HOWELL Democrat-Gazette Education Writer Dr. Russ Mayo, associate superintendent in the Little Rock School District since 1993, accepted an offer Tuesday to become superintendent in Columbia, Mo., effective July 1. Mayo, 47, signed a three-year contract after the Columbia School Board voted 7-0 Tuesday to hire him. His appointment was announced at a news conference, Mayos salary will be $98,000 with benefits that include use of a car, a retirement annuity and life insurance, Mayo said one of the greatest challenges he will face in Columbia is coping with enrollment that is growing by 400 to 500 students a year. The district uses 125 portable classrooms at its 27 schools. Voters will decide April 2 whether to approve issuing $12 million in bonds to build schools and classrooms. These are positive challenges. And they are challenges that I welcome, said Mayo, who has dealt with significant student declines in Little Rock. He said he was impressed with the district staff and school board members, who are concerned about helping low-achieving students even though the districts Dr. Russ Mayo overall test scores are above the national and Missouri averages. 'The Columbia job will be Mayos first as superintendent He previously served as a teacher and principal at junior, middle and high schools. He was director of school-business partnerships in Syracuse, N.Y., when Little Rock Superintendent Henry Williams hired him in October 1993 to be associate superintendent for desegregation. In announcing Mayos hiring Columbia district officials described him as a superior communicator and someone who values cultural diversity. They also said he understands and embraces the use of technology in instruction and is committed to managing human and fiscal resources astutely and cost-effectively. Columbia, a university town midway between Kansas City and SL Louis, has an enrollment of > 15,000 students, 20 percent of whom are minority students, including
> blacks and children of Asian and American Indian descent The district has 1,500 employees and an annual budget of more than $95 million, Little Rock has almost 25,000 students, about 3,000 employees and a budget of about $140 million. Unlike Little Rock, where Mayo supervises the districts desegregation and student assignment efforts, Columbia is not involved in a federal school desegregation lawsuit Mayo's wife, Marsha, is a fifthgrade teacher at .Adkins Elementary School in the Pulaski County Special School District, The Mayos have a 24-year-old daughter who lives in Charlotte, N,C, He said in a recent interview that he would like to serve as superintendent in Little Rock should Williams leave. But he said he didnt believe he had enough support on the board to get the position, Williams also is looking for a new job. His search is fueled partly by the school boards decision in October not to e.xtend his contract beyond the remaining two years. 1 04-19-1 F=0N ti. t Mayo emerges from mentors fading shadow W ZTlL'lOO P. G L FM/' * The r^w school sqperiotendert wants to be jiitdsed on Ws own nniQrits. ByJANlCSWINreRS ------ W^eowim wtte- T3 <1 a _ For maj years, Rosseli Mao has perforsijed his dmies ta the shaUw ofHewy Rank WiOi^ns. whose nsle'ai superintendent fn bas htea ftU5it wUh-eewtfow^rey. amonst of guilt by association I guess, whether its deserved not. "1 cam ia from Syracuse with the cttireni superintendent, and I thinfe thi bofii^d Mf9s not ^(wavs happy with the things he had done, said Maya I was the Jio4 man, and since they were ryot comfortable ia hint then 1 feli they wa W be BomfortaWc with me." 1 think he's absolateiy pereea- Itve, said John Biggs, a Little Rock bo^ member. It has never had anything to do wHli his per^ tnance, < Afl Bfepores t take center school board members rtsge IS the Columbia Pubiie ^pressed surprise over Maye's himself wantteg to become the snperintea-dent ofLittJo Boat schools. t Uke center t*' 'r/. imditeibr in tie spcisi^t. fiJUaRM. which had been beneficial Io iis earesr in tfcie past, possibly has Become fl habil^. . superiutoh-schoels is the first ip recent history be has pre-cured wiiiinMt the help of'ijrib Hams. The ColBintoia sc.hool diftiicl pld $ll,h9a to 8ie eohsuklag firv) of Hazard, Yo^todA^ pialej to techte _ *1 was 9oewftdt taken aback proffer him- Linda Pendexter, presi-aent of die scliooi board. She said WUliams always handled the business with the beard, Vary few peejie are really - laatiliar with r4 ' 'K s and [nvesti^ate thehaclsgrottii^ of the aoaqnat- IHed Candidialtes You can learn what to dofiw} your mentor, Mayo because he operates in Ue shadow of Wil* lisms,' mid ^.Qtdr yrl J^ia 'it.S 4'5 A --/?*/.y-r. -^1 w May Hairift-Heyas, held btfiw SHMie Cownty da9 also K not to do. beard aitmhers inteiwic-wed for this story, niy Russen Mayo Michael Daugherty, another hoard raeafaer, 1 purposely 1 played the role J that way, said Mayo. <7 take the No. 3 position very sertotwly. ff you are No. 1,1 dont want to upstage you, I feej like in dn iny job right, you won't know Tve Mary Hanis-Hayes cant heip as she awaits her her husbanc Maiy Harris-Hayes is Qcioded with both baapas^lon and ^er as she speaks of Shelley Caluiabla. police OB^ beiBn contacted by the (inn. an<f ffle eb Mazo-s list of refer-ertecs. r support of the l^te Ri school fcod ia -October 199S, When the board roted 4-3 cot to renew his eonlracL The vote cafiw before most of his personal probbms iwpaid Imtes. altorca-tioas with photographers, traffie vlo^icna and missetf court dales transpired. Ifeyo said in a recent interview wita the Arkansas Democrat- Gazcue that fce would like to serve as juperiniendenl iu tittle Rack wn yHIkwis (eaves, but he did not believe he had the boards sup port, , bees there, but 2y work-wUi sake a "Ttoft oftefeastm he (WHliow) ana I have been together fcr so 1^. said Mayo, I let hte rm his show," ^BC VBIUTSlOiA. Donce whose twfimoiw could pat her m jail for IS yea rs, Tm sorry if voa were btsit Haxris- Hayes said in a rapid, almeat nerrous aies- 3^ tn Janes, "Tjutln all heaesty. yon aven admit yeuraelf that the .. Askad.. .w heihe? his close uaasOsoVc.llfal*- b^a wi.t WliUarnt 'ould have Mayo said !iai goal ot becoming supennlendent had been growing w Jaore than a year, but when wdJtana came under fire by the concerned that the public would have ques-uons aixjut their relal tonshijx "I have asked Diends and colleagues myaoif, i wonder what the perceplloo will be to outside relationship with eputatioD impact me? said Mayo. "I certainly nope not. His actions should have no Bearing oa my ability to be a good aupertnteadent perjOB wha hurt you eouitfye Wed yi dea<L rtfrpUMrMirai, she had any compas- WcW4^ 3!wi,ste would teii that to Pholeaaptietl tjy - Jcdilfito* orthe , Missaiiian staff Uonee has identified Henis-Hayes and hen- husband, Larry Cartase Hayes, as the couple Wnnerj6!( tavolved in the Jan. 2fi shooting at Gerbes Supemsrket Tie shooting
th^Kt assault on a Columbia police officer sisce 1PM couW have ended Jones life if nt for the bunetpT0{>fve8th was warmj.
Jones trifled at a prcilniinafy hearing March 12 that she bad taken Hatvis-Hayes rfolen chrt* whm i Larry Hayes fired two bullets point-blank at her chert. * NQw4Iarris-Hayes, 29, spcndg her nighta j sorrounded by foor cement walls. A thin ' usTw/Vvur c hA*> I to the u ! Hayes w women I to pick n Harti among 1 Jail, bat sho will. She s ing^, thal ms hmrofbe Joes ( pleaded T!t V 19 more the justii to her no 'ril ix will profc Howev w
iy to as tify agai) Ifciser pt for Hairi . tike the - I Will : tond,"F : wiJitesti to.)Koy( nss.btii J FrI viu,. ,1 I I ! I I i i I I I I i i i I t I I i I i I 04-19-i'?'96 02:5?Fi1 FROM aw W4M *M UMWt tint I to wait arou^ to Sad out, lidoa't faefieve they thinfc Im inetMIMetnt_>lkit tfient-t a iwtam J j !! t I I I I . I { ! i J t U<C^4U4CUL 1CVU1U&, R iUWU^ (FUU* bles in Little Hock began in Ifciy' 1995 with a traffic cttation for PiMMMmilUAVn OanaiAA TO OTiUiOO P.0Z irU be 48 when I ont^ a) a' I
I } i i f 1 I i j f I } ii. i: i
J '
I i ' >' iT j! : I , I.
. H H i II , ! :
i I: i
. h II i ) t 1 I J I I I I I i i i I f i ., i I , I
I i i < f I J I . ! i I 1 I I J I I I I I > t iB i J i I -J04-19- 1995 u. ~='0l- J oc 1 i I . aoAr M cjcn' of^ the CotnnbiA eammunity,'* Elbiertsaiii. Bids of ail ages lined up for a ftee photo *uth the Ehster bunny be pare setfisg out to i!ad eggs. Diffarent age grouos broke off and searched for tie ealornti piiastje eas io aifffereat sections edltheptxk. fltMir-yeiC'old .-khahwuefoha- soB said bar lavarita part
of the host was Stdins tss with-choo Ihti inside. iCoren Mwon, X dUlgwrty peels flw sbefl off an Easter egg DougiaM Park on S^r^. About 50 Wds stwwab up to ftnd candyffteo ptictic If the children found ao egg with a chocolate Cadbory egg inside, they won & prize. Prizes ranging fTea puzzles to Saater bocte and ibekers also went to those who Bjiaxl the most eggs. Kids also Won prizes ibr the iargoEt and snsUert Easter bosheia. Darreil Poster brou^t his 6- year-old dRughfer. Sashide, Io the EsMer egg hunt "We try to take part in cotnsw- niij activities any time we cam" Carrell Foster who brought his Ayear-old dssghter, Rasitlda, tc the Easar sgghunt Linda Rcotes. presWesR of Jw North Central Columbia Neighborhood Assoeiarion, broeght her 9-yeir-oid granddanghter Tara Carney to the pa "Tbis park ii ijood, and we w and participate Koeteasaid. The activitie pan, but many onjey the day aj playground T (OS. Mayo: Longtime mentor ct)nfionts legal problems j From^a^iA itaveliiig. wrong way on 8 one- , way street He was plncad <sa pro- I bo^B. : IniSeptenbet 299& he was issued 3 eiteticn for foUowisg another _ j too dhseiy and causing an accident
When he failed to ^pear for his
court
dbt, bis previooa preliatioR- ' arj- siaius was revolsed and a Rue ! was icriad for both citations. Ths {failnre io appear charge waa jdiroHt^. 1 a larger oroslem arose in late jffocamher 'when the Arkansas jSemoent-Gazette reported that Wiiiiams eetved a ihird traffic violation Feb. 18,199$. this rime for speeding. The filed poliee report said Williams had no license and no proof of registration or icsuiance for his iSSS Mercedes. The officer wrote that Williams was very uacooperetive and described bis bebAvior as "rude and fcatefuL" Recently, Williams was a finaiiat for the superiotesdent job in St Louis. Se WM not chosen for the position. Hazard and Young, which was bdu beoarpc: iho directctr oi sehool-businesspartaerships,. j While in Syracuse, the school board gave Wjitiaais ao unfavor- able evaiuatioD, He hired a lawyer.
I Sventcaliy the poor equation fwes i estpunged and Williams was gieec a i la 1553, the Little Ri>cX school district hi^ Williams as its intecdent, and he agaia hired
Ooia timi as asscexste ' inte^at sf desegregation. In-^v . tie Rock Mayo's sAtary is JWSL2 ^17 pain $25,000, I WUilitflas had .not paid hb praperty . AnWI Jh AAMWOTI wry 5 6es fuT t*-o years, Accordiiw else 'ptibtifihed story, wai es I Wiliiasns vent io tbe courthause i following day to pay the 8S.4S1 i will he betted a photographer ^0: teas takwg a picture for the Fkper. PMO 25,CC0, recoiBmended wyiiama for too fob. WUliams and Maye .*int worked together is the 193^ in Roanoke, Yi, where Mayo was principal st Patrick Henry High School and Williams was deputy sojjerinlen- dfifit ofidiools. -iUda^Ssg to the stoi?, WilUams 6old:&e phoiogtapher, you ialre , aiy pfcttae nt oreak your caweras. i We'Ji have a nght right here, rm : tiredtid' ibis Cewepaper. Tell your I sdhwalo*' The Incideai euded with WH- , Jiams destroyiBg the ntns In the ! csanera, saying, "It was a nust^ to ever (oiue to Little Rock" He later apologised. During Mayos third year there, the teachers slgn^ a petitioa cal^ ing his leadership style 'oppressive. Vaable to reach an agreement with Mayo, the teachers took ihair sroblems to the board of education. A few months later, Mayo became the director of magnet .schools. iJk lSd9, when Williams 'oecame snpenatesndeat for the school district in Syracuse, N.Y,, he hired Mayo as a high school principal. ilus beoefite. Eis startmg salaa^ in i ii plus beneute. starting saia#y m
t^uinbia will b $S3,0QC plus bfene, > fits. White Mayo does not always
with WilltsiDS, he said th^ , harobeenanerTeetiveteaBn. ' H He Md 1 are very diirerent pee- g Ola with very diflerest peraoeali- ties," Slid Mayo. "Our styles com- plemeni one another that's why H 'ite've worked tigether as a team so fl well ail these years."
B He said WilUans has had poet-' H dveinftueopeMihiseanjer. t j 3 "I believe a raeotor is someone ' S who gives you an epportusity,' believes in you and oecoursges, yon," said Mayo, You can Jeara what to do ftosn you- Bwatoij but Amy Witta ytN can also lean whatnot to
do." wxrm up S c<n RuUeOo* carrtrifaWBd tp -. PriOMt oi Vi ttair. SftowatSe 1 I'l I I H : I j I i ! !
. I i 1 I iKayo not always popular ..ore input the wntti .-olumbias inconring uperintendent says his sadetship style has
hanged since he was in t/irginia. AHNEtOOIHtnON I ELLEN RUILEDGE .souiian stall wrilpfs changed since then anti be Bets more input praise for hrs work lo Patrick Henry in a pleasant place to Before he came leach, said fonw Mayo's appoint- school changed, she said ................ search ptneedurn 'Bnd the , th* search procedure usw .' y have a few holes jh* Sun"H^ird - Vu-8 UiW u uncover I_.i_ IXavo s cart. ,? rne' rtiani iiaiaiu w I,..-...,-- _ ___i pnnrp " In iSBfi, when he *as r-- ' CAllinp Va.. more tis 3-.S."=?i-5- SSSitSiWiS! teachers heW oul to principal. Il got lo the adtninislralors t. ..nrujxmtrp^Hfthic kvprnr^ a.ll.'^ liu-inn ----- , srt with 'h'J,S'cnTnstothe two TheluadKrs^'u start of me next school "When he became principal, n go ru the start of Ihe next school SSkSSSS loeether ,0 tty I?
5ued with Gary Iheircasc 'He was. in hts I hts dealing with me and the of the most hosUlc and unpro . . . ____... aAviif bfflln. ers Beous,, IbP tocbuL took reypocted in the a'"'.i'JTkXotited respected in the area, the Pag I meets with Mle- Russell Mayo KUS5WI wtajn, 5oxirian edito*^ Thursday- BvievanK one ,,> iirh? WCLIL,L,|1 responsible for impl^ S5S5Ss
s.ss-i ...... . . I wouldnt take the same approactuigam 1- *>- Boi inknftwthekias level as the associate superintendent for descgregalwn. Williams' first appoinlmenl and t^ ' .... ..vhltfyHA 1n^ stance, sajing be was Mayo: From Page 1A look at Ihe situation and threw Iheir support to the teachers Shortly IhcreaRer. Mayo left the school when he was named director ofMagnelSchooK Mayo attributes the petition to ciTCunwlance. The supennlendent had Started to restructure the hi^ cjchool. and Mayo was responsible for implementing teacher evalua- Hons and staff devcIopmenL "Some of the teachers who had been there a while resented it. 53id Mayo, who received bis bachelor's degree in education and his lory at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. He lias a master's and a doctoral d^ree from Ibe Univer- '! didn't realty seek a let of teacher input at thal lime.' Mayo said. Thal's changed now. Public education has shifted away from heavy banded leaders. he said. . "I wouldnttakc the same approach again.'' he said. I Ihink people you would talk to in LWle Rock and tn Syracuse would say the same (Jiing^ ray approach isn't unilaterai." The Columbia School Board had no knowledge of the Virginia incident before hiring Mayo, board President Mary Heulges said. Hai- ard & Young slate in their proposal of services thal they ny^Jigate While principal. Mayo was forced lo focus his efforts on increased violence in Ihe halls of Nottingham. 'Teachers and administrators documented 1,136 discipline violations in a lO-week period durire? the fall of 1991. These incidents included truancy, tardiness and more serious infractions such as fighting and disobedience. During one week m October. 96 oul of 185 incidenls were serious infractions. Mayo made a point of making these numbers available to the public. I used lo publish slaustics monthly," he said. lant innuenres uccurrinB In the church, home and at school. The three things Ihey should all have in common are values." said Mayo. "If you learn tho.se values you can succeed." The values MJiyo referred to include w
pecl f' people and respect for one's body. As parents got involved in the schools, ihe number of violent acts decreased, Mayo said. Working get lo know the kids . Manv the locals complained merely becau.se he wa.s an outsiwr. she -*aid. Overall, he did a (iood job. She credits Mayo with rtrtv^ Parent Teacher Student OigannatiorL The Syracuse district underwenl a tr.insformalion in 1992. Oranger Ward, the principal High School, who had a hart nweo reputation, was transferred to Nottingham to take Mayo's P^slUoo principal. Mayo moved lolhe dislnct office to take the position of director of business school partnersbips. As director. Mayo was in charge of Ihe Syracuse di.stricl's "adopt a school" program. He oers" effort.^ lo increase Ibe involvement of busiuesses in the schools. Bob HiFlorio. the current super lntndntof schools in Syracuse, worked with Mayo in the pr^m "He is very open and honest ana has a sense of balance." PiFlono said. He has great values and a sense ofrespecl for the Family. wiinanvi him . . oniv appoinirncnt r>n atstde me .. r T t_ ihrAO as disirlct in Wilhants' three years as superintendent As associate superinlendent. Mayo's main responsibilib to pull logelher Ibe pieces rf the biV tie Rock district's desegrcgalioo plan Mayo indexed the details of the court-ordered desegregation into a book that incImJed emnpre- hensbe instruction Mayo has gained strong coromu- oitt supppy, Gomwinity SrebP
roT Public SchwlF pdbe litUe Rock AliikilK P>y owe Ihwr successes to Mayo, said Suellen Vann, director t commu nicalicos for the disbrict. 'pic success of these ofganitalions IS closely connected toPr Mayo'sties to the ccmmutti'iy.'" with parenls and community members. Mayo created a mentor program thal w.a.s iostrumenlal in dectea-sing violence io the schwls- "Conununity involvemenl helped us cul our referral rate and suspension rate.-* Mayo said. In addition. Mayo held a community day to promote involvement in the .schools. che":?b
?h:Vp7p'lSG inHe ^e'ShlnS .e have is al, rIeM," hal,.a Ih..^- S , ,^deX!lal^?he Pant SSBs 01 services uia* uk, Mayo aUempted to decrease the candidates backgrounds before violent acls by dtrcclliy addre^ing naming them a finalisL the slodents, parents and teachen . ------------ from the pulpil. The upsurge m 'The Roanoke sources were sityofVirginia. In the course of evaluations, he recommended the dismi-ssal of a Patrick Henry teacher. The teacher wa nd well-prepared for cli mo used inappropriale jokes and Ian- m? t,' SSa!Sss!S proiecuBi^ UIV .- -o
MavomovesontoN.Y. he h^ to bring the probleiu oul. m VM/O klW** ** " 7 .vg ,ie decided to do Ihis Mayo made a friend in Roanoke . r. . ____..r -l ikwai Ahnrrh who would serve him well. When Roanoke's deputy superintendent. "He had a lot of interesting ideas, - loo ibeorcticai Net oob is Wnyp .a gocd _ . _ __...... Mvail l.bClL^ WOl onu niiyy -- ,,o S"in" h" "p" bi'ii 'a fin. pekon as setaBS ' wrtf When Henry t......- . Lillie Rock. Ark., in 1^. ho again __ . .. _ . -Vkatf riniA n< heawois . Rock School Board member. Judy ally like his values03/26/96 0^54 '
. MEC 003 Vs a'9 B 2V fe. 'B S. *5 S'i 'Si. ' :/-^' ...^? jX 5?' l!l . Snt Jt Iw fIi 1^ ^.1 ^ssX' 23iS: c> o i'4
lU pr"" <* i<^^ SS / .^ Ruell Mayo, an assistant sui Admlnlitra'lon Building vdth K .chooi b,d ""'s"' this morning that he has confetence at the :>tc'< litiOA pt^c-U The search is over BySABAHKARP ..,,i,fl^,the Tribu<js st?ff - . ~ RuSselfMayd accepted the job ai
superintendent of Columbia schools this morning, ending a roller-coaster search that lasted more than four months. "1 know some people are anxious when new leadership comes in, Mayo said at a news conference to announce he was accepting the post. "But I am not the kind of administrator to come in and make dramatic changes. I .will probably spend the first year reading board minutes and getting a feel for what people in the district think and what is needed." Mayo then faced the cameras and made a pitch for the April 2 bond issue. "I think the evidence that it is needed can be found in the 124 mobile classrooms around the district, he said. ,! ArociHArti Marv . School board uaws superintendent a a Hentges announced that Mayo, an associate superintendent from Little Rock, Ark., won the job on unanimous vote of the board. Hentges described Mayo as superior communicator and a good fiscal manager who "values cultural diversity and will provide leadership for the district. She said the seven school board members agreed on a l^ee-ycar contract with a salary of $98,000. He will start work in July. Mayos appointment comes al- ____ roost seven months after former mg this morning, superintendent Joel Denney resigned amid allegations of wrongdoing. The board was sharply criticized during that situation for signing a severance agreement that awarded Denney $90,000 for a year or until he found a new job. The contract the board signed with Mayo reflected lessons learned during the Denney affair. While Denney had a one-page contract with no termination plause. Hentges said Mayo's contract is nine pages and includes a paragraph that would allow the board to dismiss him with cause. .She said the board had been negotiating a contract with Mayo for the past week and put the finishing touches on it at a two-hour meet- Mayo said he hopes his presence will bring an end to the uncertainty that has plagued the district through the past months, he said he is here tor the long-haul. In my backgrpun.', 1 know, have moved around a lot, sa. Mayo, who has worked in scho districts in Virginia and Syracus N.Y. But I am not trying to colie as many superintendencics as can. I was looking to a place whe my wife and 1 could move to foi or 15 years. In Little Rock, Mayo^ was : sponsible for the districts comi cated desegregation plan and p He relations. He was the only fir ist after a number of candidr withdrew and one was rejected. School board member Ha Cooper said the fact that Mayo the only finalist was no reflec of his appeal. During the past vears, the board has inteA'ie about 18 applicants. "By now, said, 1 think we are pretty 'judges of quality. J MONDAY, JULY 1,1996 School official heaps praise on LR BY RUSS MAYO Special to the Democrat-Gazette [oday I will assume a new position as Tsuperintendent of the Columbia, Mo., public schools. As I approached that time, I reflected on the many admirable qualities I have come to appreciate about the people of Little Rock. Considering my position as associate superintendent of the Little Rock School District. you may wonder how I could have time to realize such things. I must tell you that those qualities have sustained me in one of the most difficult jobs of my career. I want to share a few observations with you. First, you have to know that I am not attempting to escape Little Rock. Since tlie announcement of my appointment, many have expressed the desire that I not leave feeling that Little Rock has been a bad ex- -perience. Absolutely not! is my response. 'L------------------------------------While my job CCJrUllPCSbtl wWriintperr attenbteioenn too nf octhues obligations of the district resulting from litigation, my personal focus has been on the people of this remarkable community. The positive side 'Of the litigation is that it has provided the community and district officials a common cause around which to rally. That has hap- !pened because of the value you place on the education of your young people. The posturing among parties in the liti-gation is a detractor from the real mission of the district Posturing occurs because the diately upon my arrival in 1993, strangers --------------------- extended a friendly handshake and said motivation of certain parties is unrelated to "Welcome repeatedly. I left my car at a lo- "desegregationorthe education of ouryouth
' -therefore, it generates more heat than light. ' I am optimistic that the continued growth in parent involvement will refocus this community and return the district to lo- 1 cal control. In spite of the side show, lam mot attempting to escape Little Rock. !' Second, Little Rock is the best place I 'have ever lived. I have relocated many times in my career. I have lived all over Virginia, in New York and here in Arkansas. I have never lived anywhere, including my ' home in Virginia Beach, where I was more 'Comfortable with the people than here in Little Rock. You have a quality of intelligence that belies your innocence. No doubt, you are aware of the unjusti- fled assumptions that outsiders make about Little Rock and Arkansas in general. Some -arrive with a missionary zeal as if coming to a foreign land. They come to show you how to make things better. They assume you need their help. In conversation with you, they mistakenly interpret the innocent gaze of your eyes as ignorance. They naively overlook your innate ability to read what they are not saying as well as what they are saying. V Over and over, R caution newcomoCs S'' about your innocent gaze. I tell them to be honest and not smug. That gaze is a secret weapon. It is a sophisticated and polite effort to evaluate motives, determine sincerity and read between the lines. By no means does it represent your lack of understanding. You understand that there can be two levels of listening: what is said and what is not said. You have a sixth sense, an instinct about people. You are intelligent, astute and perceptive. You read people at a level that is beyond the ordinary. You are great listeners and humble conversationalists. You care very much about your families, the education of your children and your civic responsibilities. Beware, stranger, I tell them: these are not people who are taken easily by charlatans, quacks or wolves in sheeps clothing. Third, your hospitality toward me has been unprecedented in my career. Imme-cal tire company only a week after arriving. When I gave my license number and state- New Yorkand stated that I had just moved to town, a hand was immediately extended over the counter and a hearty Welcome to Little Rock given. I know you are going to like Little Rock, the fellow said. He was right. This happened over and over. I have never lived anywhere where strangers bid welcome as if one has just entered their home for Sunday dinner. What hospitality! During my stay, it was not uncommon to be invited into the homes of those in the community who wanted to encourage or to learn of the litigation or just to show appreciation to an administrator and his spouse for their dedication to kids. Even as I leave, folks I know and folks I do not know are wishing me well and offering appreciation for the contributions I have made during my tenure. In other places, folks respond to your leaving as if you are a lame duck. They lose interest in you immediately. No where else have I received the kindness and hospitality that I have experienced in Little Rock. Fourth, the community is full of patrons and business people who have tthining and ability second to none. They have been trained at nationally respected institutions of learning. They are consulted nationally for advice. More importantly, tliey are generous with their time and talent. Tliis volunteering is the rule rather than the exception. Folks come from all segments of the community to help. It reflects a genuine interest in our kids and the community as I have seen nowhere else. What a wonderful resource of the kids and the district. Finally, the work ethic of tlie Little Rock School District employees is extraordinary. They are forever ti^ng to perfect what they already do well. They are motivated by success, achievement and recognition. Most need a supervisor only to provide coordination, remove obstacles and give recognition. They are willing to serve and eager to help. They have produced a district of distinction whose achievements are stifled by the cloud of contentious litigation. While collecting my thoughts for this column, so many names and faces came to mind of those who have given me this impression of Little Rock. They come from all segments of the community-district employees, par- i ents, volunteers, senior citizens, business I people, city officials, ministers and more, i They include those who have taken a per-sonal interest in the district, in my welfare and in the welfare of the superintendent beyond their busy schedules. It would be risky to name them all for fear of omitting one. To each of you, if I have not made my appreciation obvious, please know it now and for always. Know also that you have my deepest admiration, for you have made this burden light and my time in Little Rock a joy. You have given me strength and hope. You have prepared me for the next phase of my career. For what you have done for me, I will be forever grateful. A sixth sense about people, humility, intelligence, generosity and hospitality are words I associate with the people of Little Rock I came here with some assumptions, as do other outsiders. I leave, however, knowing that Little Rock is an extraordinary place. As I visit Little Rock in the future, I hope to see all of you again and again, for I shall never forget you. Thank you for ha ving me. It has been a pleasure. I wish for you and this community only the best that life,has to offer.
This project was supported in part by a Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives project grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Council on Library and Information Resoources.