April 22, 2007 -- City principals will flock to a Manhattan hotel tomorrow for a crash course in the school system's latest reorganization, scrambling to learn details about a newly revealed program they must implement by the fall.
The symposium at the Grand Hyatt will attempt to explain three "support organization models," which all schools must choose from in the next month.
The support organizations are designed to help schools hit accountability targets, provide professional development, attract high-quality teachers and design programs to help scores and attendance, according to the Department of Education.
The organizations do not have hiring and firing powers and will not supervise principals, but work with them.
Principals must choose one option by May 15, and some are worried they don't have enough time to make an informed choice.
"It's a huge decision to make," said one veteran Bronx principal. "It's not something that should be taken lightly . . . They didn't have details ready until last week. So, yes, I'm very concerned."
