Serving this district as Superintendent has been one of the greatest honors of my career. From the moment I stepped into this role, the dedication of our educators has inspired me, as has the enthusiasm of our students and the unwavering support of our families and community. Together, we have achieved very impressive milestones, and I am immensely proud of our progress toward truly fostering an environment of academic excellence and personal growth.
It is important that our community knows we worked hard to increase student performance across all grade levels. As I’ve shared before, our standardized test scores increased by an average of 15% and we experienced a 12% increase in graduation rate in our first year of work, demonstrating our commitment to academic excellence. I must also add that we’ve seen nearly a 400% increase in dual enrollment, and I expect that number to increase as MPS moves forward.
With the support of our staff and community, we successfully renewed our 3% county tax that will support not only academic resources but capital improvement projects across the district. In partnership with Mr. Arthur Watts, our outgoing Chief School Financial Officer, we also have grown our cash balance to over $70 million allowing for flexibility in programming, resource attainment, and infrastructure upgrades.
Our district leaders will continue to work closely with our community leaders and push through any adversity and challenges. I know we experienced a few challenges that seemed daunting at the time, but together, we kept the success of our children as our priority, and we prevailed. The partnership between our district’s administration, staff, and community has been the cornerstone of our success, which I will cherish deeply. Our commitment to the education and well-being of our children has been a driving force behind every initiative and decision we have made.
It’s not easy for me to prepare to step down, however, I am confident that the district is in a strong position, with a talented team of educators and leaders ready to continue the vital work we have begun. I believe the incoming leadership will uphold our shared values and build upon the foundation we have laid together.
In the coming weeks, I will work closely with the Board of Education and district leadership to facilitate this process. My priority remains the continued success and well-being of our students, and I am committed to providing all necessary support during this time.
Again, I thank you everyone for your support, understanding, and dedication to our school district. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your Superintendent.
Melvin J. Brown, Ed.D., is the superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools and previously served as superintendent of Reynoldsburg City Schools in Ohio. He has 24 years of school administrative experience.
