DPS Board of Education approves new 1-year contract for superintendent

DAYTON — Dayton Public School Board Members voted 4-3 to keep its superintendent for another year.

Tuesday night’s decision came after Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli announced she would be stepping down this summer.

DPS’ Board of Education voted for a new one-year contract for Lolli, but that vote did not happen without a discussion.

In January Lolli wrote a letter stating the district had time to find a new leader pending the expiration of her contract at the end of July, but during Tuesday’s meeting, the board said it needed more time.

>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DPS superintendent now up for contract extension just months after retirement announcement

Lolli said the district has not been able to find a search firm to help them find her successor.

“The board got to the point in the last couple of weeks where they needed to ask me to stay to get them through this,” she said.

William Smith, the board’s vice president, wasn’t too keen on doing a national search for its next leader.

“We aren’t where some of us would want us to be right now, but that doesn’t mean all is lost and we now need to switch course and do something different,” Smith said.

One of the board members said she enjoyed working with Lolli but wants to now see a change at the top.

“I’ve wanted change and I’m going to advocate for change,” Karen Wick-Gagnet said.

>>PREVIOUS REPORT: ‘We have built a strong foundation;’ DPS superintendent leaving in July

During public comment, most people supported keeping Lolli but some questioned the district’s efforts in looking for a new superintendent.

“It’s so important that when you choose the next superintendent that you have a succession plan in place,” Clayton Luckie, former board member said.

“We ask that you support the one-year contract extension for superintendent Lolli, we believe presenting working families is in the best interest of the students,” Peter McLinden, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees regional director said.

The new contract will go into effect in August.

Lolli said the contract will be the same as her last contract, so her base salary will be at least roughly $205,000.

The board will keep looking for a firm to help in its search.

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