The head of the Island's first senior secondary school expects to learn of his future at CedarBridge Academy in the new year.

Canadian Ernest Payette's three-year contract as principal ends next September. But Mr. Payette has expressed some interest in staying on.

Whether or not he does so depended on the Education Ministry and CedarBridge's needs, he said.

"It depends on where we are at the end of the three years,'' Mr. Payette told The Royal Gazette earlier this year.

Noting that there was only a "very small pool'' of local educators with experience in a senior secondary school system, he stressed: "That is why it is important to have leadership training.

"We need to provide our people with that opportunity and experience...'' Mr. Payette, however, added that two of his deputies -- Kalmar Richards and John Walsh -- were quite capable of running the school. "While they've not had the opportunity to work in other large schools, Mrs. Richards visited some schools last year and we're making arrangements for other visits this year,'' Mr. Payette said.

"We've also set up opportunities for professional dialogue, for Mr. Walsh to make contact with educators overseas.'' Mr. Payette -- who arrived in Bermuda from Belleville, Ontario, during the summer of 1996 -- has close to 20 years of experience in education.

He has served as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, vice principal, and principal.

In an initial interview with The Royal Gazette in 1996, the 48-year-old veteran educator said he was attracted to the $80,000-a-year principal post because Bermuda was planning for inclusive education.

"What you're doing in Bermuda is consistent with what they are trying to do in North America, the United Kingdom and Germany,'' Mr. Payette said.

"But the Island has a much clearer vision of inclusive schools which we believe is going to be the way of education in the 21st century.'' With a background in science, Mr. Payette was appointed curriculum coordinator of maths, science, and technology for Hastings County Board of Education in Canada.

He was given responsibility of developing new integrated technology courses in the area.