Election will change face of Dayton’s school board

Eight candidates seek 4 seats in district that has seen recent ups, downs.

No one disputes that it’s a crucial time for the Dayton school district.

Over the past, tumultuous 15 months, the district has replaced most of its top leadership, saw millions in new funding allocated for preschool, and had some great moments — escaping the threat of state takeover via better student growth scores, solving some long-running busing problems and improving textbooks, computer access and career tech options.

But during that same period, Dayton Public Schools were also put on OHSAA probation for trying to rig a football game, had a long, painful contract fight with teachers that nearly led to a strike and, just weeks ago, ranked second to last in Ohio on state test scores.

Against that backdrop, eight candidates are fighting for four seats on the Dayton school board in the Nov. 7 election, and with Joe Lacey the only incumbent on the ballot, there is a guarantee of at least three new faces being elected. It promises to be one of the most watched local races on election night.

The eight candidates are Jocelyn Rhynard, Joe Lacey, Jo’el Jones, Ann Marie (Mario) Gallin, Paul Bradley, William Harris Jr., Karen Wick-Gagnet and Mohamed Al-Hamdani. Those last four are running as a team, although voters can choose any four they want.

The four winners will join current board members Robert Walker, John McManus and Sheila Taylor, who are halfway through their four-year terms. Other incumbents Hazel Rountree, Ron Lee and Adil Baguirov decided not to run for re-election, and will leave the board in January.

Here are the candidates in alphabetical order.