Public school principals remain out of the loop about plans for an alternative school which is expected to open in two months.

Association of School Principals president Livingston Tuzo yesterday told The Royal Gazette that principals had received no details about how the Warwick Camp for disruptive students will be staffed or operated.

"We have not seen any job description,'' Mr. Tuzo noted. "We have no idea about the details of how this will work.

"Staffing is the cornerstone to this process. They really have to be clear about the people they hire to do this.

"They need counsellors with behaviour management skills, qualified specialists, preferably males, and they have to be clear on the role of the psychologist or psychiatrist.'' There was also concern that the alternative school will need to accommodate more than the 20 or so students planned, Mr. Tuzo said.

The ASP met with the senior education officer of Students Services, Joeann Smith, two weeks ago and received an overview of the alternative school.

But Mr. Tuzo said: "We have not even set down and listened to the Regiment's point of view.

"I think it's time for all the players to sit down and at least be informed.'' Similar sentiments have been expressed by the Bermuda Union of Teachers.

And while stating that he understood Mr. Tuzo's concerns, Education Minister Jerome Dill said: "Let me assure him he need not be concerned.

"One of the purposes of the meeting with Joeann Smith was to give an overview of the school,'' Mr. Dill added.

Principals will be provided with more details at a subsequent meeting, he said although he had no idea when such meeting would take place.

"We have such a massive undertaking ahead of us that every piece of it is extremely important,'' Mr. Dill stressed.

"There is an obligation on us to consult with others. But if there is a difficulty, I need to hear about it and so does the Permanent Secretary.

"Mr. Tuzo should feel comfortable consulting me and if I'm not available, the Permanent Secretary or Joeann Smith.

"There's a lot of work to be done. But at the end of the day there has been consultation. And I fully expect that the ASP will be quite pleased when the alternative school goes forward. We will include some of the ASP's recommendations.'' Agreeing with Mr. Tuzo that the school will need to accommodate more than some 20 students, Mr. Dill said: "We want to make sure we get it right with a smaller number and iron out all the bugs. In all due course we will have to expand. There's certainly scope at Warwick Camp for that.'' Meanwhile, Mr. Tuzo gave the first term of the restructured public school system top grades.

Reflecting on the overall changes, particularly the introduction of middle schools, the West End Primary principal said: "It's been very positive because the size of student bodies have been reduced, the management of schools has improved.'' "I've noticed just being next to Sandys (middle school) the changes in students' behaviour. Without having the older children with bikes it has made a huge difference.

"Also all middle schools have staggered lunch hours which has made monitoring of students more manageable.'' From an administrative point of view it has allowed principals to spend more time doing what they are supposed to do, rather than responding to trouble, he added.

"Of course it has meant more work for principals, particularly in middle schools,'' he said.

"But the mix of primary teachers with secondary school teachers who are more subject-based has worked well. Those two groups have blended well.

"Timetabling was presenting a problem initially, but the Education Ministry has assisted with that.

"It has been a challenging year for all teachers. But things appear to be a lot more focussed. They're enjoying it, but it's exhausting.'' Regarding the middle school curriculum, Mr. Tuzo said: "It's a work in progress.'' "We're talking about adopting a new philosophy,'' he explained. "As teachers work through it and develop this new style of teaching, it will improve.

"The Ministry's technical officers are working closely with the schools to see that that progress takes place.

"Technical officers visit schools three days a week, talking to teachers and principals and evaluating the process.'' Mr. Tuzo said he believed that improvements will also be made at the primary school level where some reforms have already started.

"Programme supervision is on line with us now,'' he said. "We're getting Internet. Primary schools have not been left out completely. We also have professional development for staff.'' But all of the improvements will come to nought without the success of the Island's new senior school, CedarBridge Academy, he stressed.

"The majority of children there want it to work and are looking to benefit from what is happening there,'' he said.

"The real key is going to be how we (the Ministry, unions, and the community) react and respond to CedarBridge. We have to make it work.'' Asked to grade the old and new public school system, Mr. Tuzo said: "Prior to the changes I would have given the system a C- or D at best. We were struggling. I would now give it a B .

"I'm very optimistic that the changes were for the better.''