Adamowski tapped to help run New London schools

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The former superintendent of the Hartford Public Schools was appointed Wednesday as a special master to oversee the struggling New London Public Schools.

Steven Adamowski is currently special master of the Windham Public Schools. State education officials said he will continue his responsibilities in Windham while taking on his new role in New London. He will serve as the New London special master for the 2012-13 school year, a term the State Board of Education may extend.

The terms of his contract, including compensation, will not change, according to the State Department of Education.

"Dr. Adamowski is uniquely positioned to assist New London in the strategic planning and execution needed to improve student achievement," Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said in a statement.

Adamowski will officially become the special master in New London on July 1. He's been charged with improving the district's governance structure, stabilizing the district's finances and working with the local school board on a long-term plan for improving student achievement. New London is among the lowest-performing school districts in Connecticut, with nearly 64 percent of its high school students graduating in four years.

New London Public Schools have been received extra supervision and direction since September 2008, when a State Department of Education Technical Assistance Team monitored the district's improvement plan. But in February, the city's school board president and superintendent asked for greater intervention.

In addition to appointing Adamowski, the State Board of Education voted Wednesday to require the city's school board to participate in training to improve its operational efficiency and effectiveness.

As Windham's special master, Adamowski has worked collaboratively with the school board and superintendent to come up with a three-year improvement plan, which touches on everything from greater parent engagement to creating high-performing schools, state officials said.