The city’s chief academic officer says school support networks have improved dramatically in the last few years while saving the city money. Ahead of this week’s City Council hearing on the topic, he says the networks let principals choose their peer groups and give them one place to go for answers on a variety of topics.

We know that principals are extremely busy. But perhaps the holiday break offers a few minutes for reflection, and some more principals can use SchoolBook to explain their schools to the greater education community. Just e-mail us for the link.

The principals who responded to a SchoolBook questionnaire opened a revealing window on daily life at city schools and provided rich details about curriculum, the qualifications they look for when they hire teachers, and the expectations and aspirations they have for students.