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Dennis L. Recker,
Liberty-Benton Local Schools superintendent since July 1990, has led a
district that has grown from 800 students to over 1300 children in the
2005-2006 school year. He has provided the leadership to improve student
performance from equal to the national norm, to that of the top 20%
nationally, on standardized testing.
Liberty-Benton was virtually “broke” financially upon Mr. Recker’s
arrival, and today holds a cash reserve equal to six months of operation.
This required passage of a 9.8 mill operating issue in 1992, which has been
replaced once and renewed three times, and a ¾% school income tax in 1995,
which has also been renewed. This is nearly unheard of in Ohio today, given
the difficult and troubling financial times schools face today.
As for facilities upgrades, the district passed a 5.3 mill bond issue
for an elementary wing in 1990 and a 7.6 mil bond issue in 1995 for middle
school repair and renovation, and a new high school. Mr. Recker created a
funding mechanism through existing debt retirement whereby residents paid on
an additional 2.3 mils over their 1992 tax rates to construct the high
school. Since then, the school has had elementary and middle school
renovations, an additional modular wing added, a new stadium built, along
with an 8 lane all-weather track, seating for 2500 people, a
student/community fitness center, and additional acreage for any future
expansion, all without having to ask for additional revenues and with using
very few dollars from the school’s general fund. The vast majority of needed
finances were generated from donations, permanent improvement funds, a
charitable tax remainder trust, required set-a-sides, or federal grant
dollars.
Mr. Recker has asked for and supported some educational “firsts” for
Liberty-Benton, including locally supported all day-every day kindergarten,
K-12 computer instruction, advanced instruction in foreign languages,
mathematics, science, dance, expanded music instruction, and student
counseling services at all grade levels.
Over 60% of L-B students are involved in extra-curricular
participation, and for two consecutive years, over 50% of L-B graduates have
been post-secondary scholarship recipients. This fact, along with the
Eagles winning numerous athletic league and tournament championships,
including five state championships in athletic league and tournament
championships, including five state championships in athletic and academic
competition since 1990, speaks to the high quality education reputation
Liberty-Benton now enjoys.
A 38 year public school educator and school administrator, Mr. Recker
has received professional organization recognition for his leadership at
Liberty-Benton. Included are being named an Ohio School Leadership Institute
Associate in 1997, being awarded the Buckeye Association of School
Administrators Exemplary Leadership Award in 2002, and the Award of
Excellence by the Division of Education Administration and Leadership
Studies, Bowling Green State University, in 2004. In 2003, Mr. Recker
underwent a 360 degree performance evaluation, conducted through BASA, and
received the highest rating of performance by an Ohio superintendent
recorded up to that time, on a 360 degree performance measurement tool.
Mr. Recker has served a president of Northwest Ohio School Supervisors
Association, and currently serves on the Buckeye Association of School
Administrators k-16 Education Committee. He has also nationally published
articles in Quality Progress, “Back to the Basics: Science, Math and
Technology”, April 1993, and The School Administrator, “Could Adults Today
Pass High-Stakes Math”, June 2004.
Mr. Recker and his wife Rene, have eight children, with two still
attending L-B, and five grandchildren.
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