Superintendent's First Night on the Job

Springfield's new school superintendent says he's ready to make changes. It's his first day on the job and his first school board meeting tonight (Monday). But so far few details about his plan for the future. Walter Milton is a former Michigan school superintendent where he made some tough choices, creating gender based classes and some cuts to programs. But his assertiveness is why board members here say he's the right choice. "Hello everyone (few hellos from audience) .... Hello everyone ... (more hellos from audience) ok that's more like it. " Said District 186 Superintendent, Walter Milton, PhD. The first African American superintendent for Springfield public schools says he wants to get know the district better before making any overhauls. However, struggling students at washington middle school are waiting on him to see how their classes will be structured next year. Originally Washington was going to be a separate school for African American males then it turned to gender based classes. But now he wants to hold off and see what can be done with the entire school. "I wouldn't say that it won't move forward. We want to make sure that we develop the right system in place so that we can have a high probability of being successful." Said Milton. Milton plans to meet with washington's principal and one of the sponsor's tomorrow. One option the program could be spread to all struggling students in the school. So far money has been set aside to hire and train two teachers. Milton also says he will not fill the deputy superintendent's job. She retired this year and Milton says it can be substituted with two coordinators helping school improvement positions.