CLEVELAND, March 31, 2006 - Mayor Frank G. Jackson announced today that he concurs with the Cleveland school board's decision to hire Dr. Eugene Sanders as the new chief executive officer of the Cleveland Municipal School District.

"Dr. Sanders has established a solid track record in urban education," said Mayor Jackson. "He has articulated his commitment to creating educational excellence for the children of Cleveland and I look forward to future successes with Dr. Sanders on board."

Mayor Jackson met with Dr. Sanders twice during the search for a new school CEO. In addition, Mayor Jackson met with Larry Davis, chairman of the Cleveland Board of Education, Gladys Santiago, a member of the Board of Education and Sharon Dumas, the City of Cleveland's Finance Director, after they returned from visiting Toledo and meeting with stakeholders of the Toledo Public Schools.