Jackie Pons’ priorities for Leon County Schools are simple and straight to the point: more for students - as in choices and programs - and less for teachers, as in red tape and bureaucracy.

Pons, elected superintendent in November, already has made significant changes in the school district, such as reassigning principals and district office staff.

What he wants for students is a wide range of choices for career preparation for those who don’t plan to go to college, and he’s starting with career academies at all of the district’s six high schools.

One of the major programs Pons is planning is a new information technology certification program at Godby High School.

"We’re going to roll it out soon," Pons told the Tallahassee Democrat editorial board Wednesday. "This will include industry-level certification. A child out of high school can land a job paying $55,000-$60,000 a year with that certification."

Pons outlines five major priorities in a new brochure: school safety, school reform, staff effectiveness, magnet and choice options, and parent/community involvement.

Wednesday, Pons talked about the importance of strong relationships between the superintendent and the community, and between the district office and Leon’s public schools.

"I’m trying to spend a lot of time in the schools," Pons said. "I think it’s very important for the superintendent to be seen working with the school staffs. I want to make sure we involve everyone in that relationship."

School Board Chairwoman Maggie Lewis-Butler accompanied Pons to Wednesday’s meeting.

"I see these relationships as working together as a team," Lewis-Butler said. "As chair, I spend more time with the superintendent, and I see him as a leader. In 2007 there are changes to be made, and he is making them."

As for teachers, Pons wants to minimize their paperwork and time spent on filling out forms, among other things.

"Part of it is a common-sense approach," he said. "Is this easy to do? No. But I see it as something that’s possible, and us doing it together as a team."

Pons said he is setting up a committee to create one-page evaluation forms for principals instead of 13-page forms.

"We don’t need pages and pages of forms," he said. "We need to make it friendlier."

Pons and Lewis discussed major areas of interest for incoming high school freshmen to help them start mapping out plans for their future careers. The state Department of Education unveiled a statewide plan for high school majors in January, and the Leon County School Board approved its version of the plan Tuesday night.

Pons also discussed graduation rates (he wants to be sure GED options and online credit make-up are available at every high school), the class size Constitutional Amendment (Leon County was pro-active in limiting class sizes before voters passed the amendment in 2002) and technology in all schools (more children than ever before now have computer access.)

"We want to put everyone in the boat with us," Pons said. "We’re rowing with the priorities - and if anyone kicks a hole in the boat, they’ll have to bail."

PONS’ HIGHLIGHTS

1. School Safety

Raptor screening software for visitors at all schools

Issue photo identification badges for staff

Install video monitoring of school campuses.

Upgrade filters to protect children from online predators.

2. School Reform

Bring back a seven-period day with a six-period option at each high school and special program sites.

Increase numbers of African-American students from middle schools in high school courses, and in advanced high school or college credit courses.

Establish online credit retrieval and GED options at each high school.

Launch career academies at all high schools by 2007-08 school year.

3. Staff Effectiveness

Develop a pay plan for high-performing personnel to serve in low-performing schools.

Lobby the state Legislature for the highest competitive salaries for instructional and education support professionals.

Form community partnerships to support an employee wellness program.

4. Effective Magnet and Choice Options

Evaluate current magnet and choice programs.

Assess the impact of the federal No Child Left Behind choice and class-size reduction and develop a plan of action for the district.

5. Parent/Community Communication and Involvement

Increase parent & community participation in volunteer & mentoring programs by 5 percent.

Design a Web cast and/or televised program to highlight gains in community involvement in schools.

Provide real-time Web portals for parents and teachers.