How Changes Will Affect Principals

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

One of the changes the Mayor intends to make in the school system concerns how schools utilize educational support services.

Currently, there are 332 Principals who chose to become part of the "Empowerment Schools" program. These schools were given less supervision and in return received more money to spend as they saw fit. Those Principals also had to agree to be accountable for significant improvements in student achievement.

Everyone Covered

Beginning next year, all Principals will have to choose from an array of support options. These services will be paid for with money saved by dismantling the existing 10 regional superintendent offices.

The first choice, which will give Principals the most discretion and the least structure, will be to join the Empowerment Schools program. This option gives a Principal the most authority over educational and budget policy, more resources and fewer administrative requirements.

The second possibility will be to partner with one of the four regional superintendents who will be retained and who will each develop a Learning Support Organization to help guide schools. The superintendents will be given the funds needed to build the support organization, with themes that have not yet been decided upon. The four superintendents are Kathleen Cashin, Judy Chin, Marcia Lyles and Laura Rodriguez.

The last option is to partner with a group outside the school system, such as a nonprofit or a university department that specializes in educational systems. The Department of Education will accept proposals from outside groups to screen applicants and will then offer a list of organizations from which Principals can choose.