Photo by Mike Maddock New Richland One superintendent Dr. Percy Mack addresses the Columbia Rotary Club. Dr. Percy Mack looked every bit the part of a confident new superintendent as he was presented Monday to the Columbia Rotary Club by Rick Noble, director of Richland First Steps. Dark suit, dark tie, undaunting step to the podium, command of the microphone.

Just 27 days on the job prevented Mack from giving a full analysis of his new challenge or a full discussion of his plans for Richland One. However, he did give a few indications of the direction in which he would like to take the faltering school district.

The former teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent in Georgia and Ohio laid claim to a disadvantaged background and a not- sosuccessful beginning in school. "I started in the last reading group," he said. "The teacher kept us after school so we had no play time."

Because of the teacher's toughness, however, he learned to read and is now a district superintendent. Also, one of his bottom classmates is now the highest ranking black Marine and is in charge of forces in Iraq. His point was that teachers make a difference.

Mack uttered the expected mantras:

• We must educate all students.

• Academic achievement is most important.

• If we don't get an adequate budget, we will have to cut services.

Then he stepped into the path that previous superintendents feared to tread, "The school district alone can't improve the school district. We must harness the learning community - the district, the city, the Rotary Club. I am asking for your support, and I know you will rally to help us."

Mack recounted a recent trip on a Greyhound bus. "My teachers gave me the opportunity to ride the bus or not ride the bus. I don't have to ride the bus, but, if I want to, I can." His analogy was that children must be given the opportunity to ride or not ride. Schools must give students the opportunity to succeed or not succeed. Students must have the full range of choices.

When asked what he would do with the district that has a decreasing enrollment and an increasing budget, he responded, "We have to cut what is not working…60% of our budget must be spent in the classroom." Then he added a caveat: "In the area of poverty, we need more staff and more services because schools must do what parents can't."