By Jennifer Mrozowski
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Frailey

Cincinnati school chief Alton Frailey has proposed a reorganization of the top spots in Cincinnati Public Schools, including creating three assistant superintendent positions, to give schools greater access to him and his administrative staff and help improve student achievement.

Frailey said the school board agreed to the changes on the condition the positions wouldn't add costs to the district's central office budget and no new positions would be added.

The reorganization hearkens back to the district's structure in the early 1990s, when a blue-ribbon business panel recommended eliminating three area superintendents. The district eliminated those and other administrative positions, but some later said the central office staff was stripped too thin.

"As long as he stays within the budget, I think he should be able to put the people in the positions he wants to get the job done," said board President Sally Warner. "But I do not believe we can increase the budget."

The reorganization also includes filling the spot of chief operating officer that has been vacant since Kent Cashell left the district last summer for a private sector job.

Frailey said he wants Deputy Superintendent Rosa Blackwell, who now oversees about 80 principals, to become the chief strategic adviser to the superintendent. He said the reorganization would allow Blackwell to focus efforts on high school restructuring, the teacher evaluation system and other reform efforts.

The three assistant superintendents for school and support will oversee the principals and work directly with schools. They will be charged with implementing a new school accountability system aligned with state and federal regulations; developing strategies to improve student success and overseeing communication and training of the school decision-making groups.

"This is about improving student performance and getting people in the field who can provide a high level of support for our principals so they can get the job done," Frailey said.

Frailey, who's been on the job since November, said some have cautioned him to wait before reorganizing.

"The kids cannot afford for us to wait to improve the quality of instruction," he said.

Other positions include filling the vacant spot of administrative assistant to the superintendent and creating a position of chief assistant to the superintendent, who will handle special projects and interact with the schools and community.

Frailey said he hopes the positions will be filled in the next few months. He then plans a comprehensive audit of the central office by an outside agency to improve effectiveness, he said.

E-mail jmrozowski@enquirer.com