Fairborn City Schools Superintendent Gene Lawley was honored at the board’s regular December meeting as he prepares to retire after more than a decade with the district.

Board members announced an open house for Lawley on Dec. 19 at the district board building and presented him a plaque thanking him for 12 years of service to Fairborn City Schools. During the meeting Lawley addressed the board and community, reflecting on 13 years in the district, crediting three bond measures and community support for large improvements to school facilities, and thanking staff and past board members for their collaboration.

Dr. Brackenhoff introduced recognition of students who earned perfect scores on state achievement tests and the superintendent thanked teachers, administrators and support staff—bus drivers, custodians and food service workers—for their roles in supporting students. Lawley singled out the district’s central office team by name and noted improvements in the district’s state report card during his tenure.

The board’s public remarks and the superintendent’s comments were framed as a farewell and recognition; no formal personnel action or vote on the superintendent’s employment status was taken during the public portion of the meeting. The board scheduled an open-house reception for Lawley on Dec. 19.

The meeting moved on to routine business after the recognition and the board later entered executive session for the specified purpose of discussing employment or compensation of public employees, with no additional public action anticipated afterward.