PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Portland's public schools have a new superintendent.

The city's Board of Public Education on Monday ratified a three-year contract for Emmanuel Caulk, 40, who most recently was regional assistant superintendent in Philadelphia.

Caulk said one of his primary initiatives would be to form parent advisory councils in the city's 16 public schools to help determine how money is spent and how the community can bring additional resources.

The Portland Press Herald reports that Caulk said parents should be engaged in partnerships with principals in "shared decision making."

His challenges include meeting the needs of the growing number of students who are from poor and immigrant families while at the same time providing the same rigorous education that private and suburban schools offer.

He starts Aug. 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.