LORAIN — The small school programs at Lorain’s three middle schools were eliminated Wednesday as a way to save the district money.

Since 2003, each middle school was divided into two “small schools” of about 250 students — each with its own principal — as a way to give students better relationships with their administrators.

The concept isn’t unique to Lorain and is being adopted across the country by many of the larger, urban districts as a way of better engaging their students.

The plan generally is put into place in districts serving a larger percentage of low-income or minority students.

Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson said in Lorain, the plan was adopted to put one principal in charge of no more than 400 students. But with population declines, the three middle schools had only about 500 students each, so the program no longer was needed — allowing the district to retain  one principal per school and reassign the others.

While this won’t save the cash-strapped district money immediately, eventually the salaries of those who are reassigned could be reduced or grant money could be sought to pay for their positions in the future.

As a result of the restructuring, several administrators will move around. They are:

• Longfellow Middle School Principal Michelle Spotts will replace Washington Elementary Principal Barb Kapucinski, who will take over as director of magnet programs for the district.
• Whittier Middle School Principal Roberto Davila will replace Lorain Southview High School Principal Sam Newsome, who will become principal at Gen. Johnnie Wilson Middle School.
• Gen. Johnnie Wilson’s current principals, Chris Pankey and Greg Henderson, are becoming the director of school improvement and director of special school options, respectively.

Small schools are still in place at both Admiral King and Southview high schools.

Contact Adam Wright at 329-7151 or awright@chroniclet.com.

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