I'm Done: Cleveland Schools CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders is calling it quits

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CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO)  - Cleveland Schools will be shopping for a new leader.

Dr. Eugene Sanders, CEO of the school district since 2006, resigned suddenly over the weekend. The announcement upset both teachers and parents.

"I think it was some unfinished business. He pulled a Lebron James," Larnell Hill.

"The school system is already suffering enough so it's not a good thing," Hope Tramble.

"Every time we get a good start something else happens so I'm not very happy right now about it," Laurie Gray.

"He kind of left us in the middle of the river. I'm sad," retired teacher David Raspberry.

Mayor Frank Jackson says he not going to cry over spilled milk.

"People will say that but the whole question will be as to what we do as a result of that. What I will not get into is taking that attitude bemoaning the situation," Mayor Frank Jackson.

"It is what it is. The man has made a decision."

Dr. Eugene Sanders, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District since 2006, informed Mayor Frank G Jackson, School Board Chair Denise Link and Vice Chair Louise Dempsey that he will retire, with an effective date as soon as February 1, 2011.

CMSD held a press event Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Board Room at the Administration Building, 1380 E. 6th Street, where Dr. Sanders provided more detail relative to this announcement.

The Mayor, the CEO and the Board are working together to assemble a transition team that will be charged with the following responsibilities:

1. Working to meet the seven goals of the Academic Transformation Plan:

· To graduate all students ready to compete in the 21st Century.

· To provide high quality schools in every neighborhood so that all families have choices.

· To hold everyone accountable for success-teachers and principals, central office staff, parents and students, and community.

· To recruit, support and retain high-quality principals and teachers.

· To expand what is working today and be bold in rethinking and changing what is not working.

· To attract and retain students and families in Cleveland.

· To right-size the District by eliminating excess capacity, addressing overcrowding and ensuring effective use of resources.

2. Continuing with current efforts to create a sustainable financial stability model for the District.

3. Continue the District's aggressive work towards Continuous Improvement this year.

The Board will identify a search firm that will be charged with identifying and screening a new CEO for the beginning of the 2010-2011.

Dr. Eugene sanders was getting paid $263,000 a year.  The district is facing a 50-million dollar deficit next year.

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