When Robert Harris graduated from college with a degree in physics and math, he sought an engineering job in his hometown of Philadelphia. But the year was 1952, and companies weren’t hiring blacks for professional positions.

To clarify what administrators fear might be villagers’ misperceptions regarding math performance at Yellow Springs High School and McKinney School, Principal John Gudgel and Interim Superintendent Tony Armocida presented information on the district’s five-year-old math initiative at the Nov. 12 school board meeting.