Pittsburgh City Council this morning adopted a proclamation that honored outgoing Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt for his "aggressive reform agenda."

Mr. Roosevelt, who joined the district in August 2005, will leave at year's end to become president of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Council said Mr. Roosevelt drew national attention as he worked to improve the schools and bring an infusion of money to the district. Highlights included the Pittsburgh Promise college scholarship program, which Mr. Roosevelt founded with Mayor Luke Ravenshtahl, and a $40 million Gates Foundation grant to improve teacher performance.

Other milestones included performance pay for teachers and principals, closing of about 22 schools, opening of new magnet schools, introduction of new curricula and improved relations with the city's foundation community and state lawmakers.

Councilman Patrick Dowd, who was on the school board when Mr. Roosevelt joined the district, said the superintendent "has transformed the culture of the school district."

School board member Sherry Hazuda said Mr. Roosevelt's departure "is a loss for all of us."

"A little college in Ohio is very fortunate for what they are gaining," she said.

Mr. Roosevelt said he was "enormously grateful" for the support he received from school board members and others in the city. He urged renewed support for the Pittsburgh Promise's fund-raising efforts.

"It was an honor to work with you," he said.

Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, initially a critic of Mr. Roosevelt, sponsored the proclamation.