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Tribute to John B. Maxwell

Mr. Maxwell was in the Dayton school district from 1938 - 1981, the last nine years as superintendent. - by James Cummings, Dayton Daily News

John B. Maxwell, who worked for Dayton schools from 1938 to 1981 and served as superintendent during some of the district's most tumultuous years, died Monday July 5th 1999, at Mercy Siena Woods nursing home. Mr. Maxwell, who has been splitting his time between Dayton and Sarasota, Fla., since retiring from the school district, was 88.

His family described him as a man "whose passion for educating children was equivalent to his genuine affection for them." In 1976, on the first day that thousands of Dayton public school students began court-ordered desegregation, then superintendent Maxwell didn't get home until about 6 p.m., hours after dismissal. But he got a call saying a few children had gotten on the wrong buses and had not yet made it home. Mr. Maxwell got into his car and tracked down the missing children and made sure they got to where they were supposed to go.
'I felt I had to go out there when I knew we had 6- and 7-year old kids lost." He said at the time. "The thought of something happening to a kid bothers me a lot."

Though personally opposed to busing for desegregation when named superintendent, Mr. Maxwell administered a smooth start to Dayton's program.
"He was superintendent during a very challenging time." said current Dayton superintendent James Williams. "He was here at the height of desegregation, and he had to make a lot of tough decisions. He handled it very well, I understand."

Mr. Maxwell started his career as a teacher in the Dayton public schools after graduating from Ohio State University. His career included years as a teacher, coach and athletic director at Roosevelt High School and principal at Highview Elementary.

He was the first principal when Meadowdale High School opened in 1960 and held that post until he was chosen as superintendent in 1973.

A conservative faction on the Dayton school board called the Serving Our Schools committee ended the contract of Wayne M. Carle and selected Mr. Maxwell superintendent over the strong objections of a more liberal minority faction on the board.

But Mr. Maxwell was credited with being able to work with both sides of a divided school board during an emotionally charged era in the history of the district. He introduced magnet schools to Dayton and also spearheaded the establishment of the Dayton Career Academy.