The Pittsburgh Public Schools kicked off a merit pay program by paying $21,216 in bonuses to principals of eight accelerated learning academies, a modest sum reflecting the schools' challenging start-up in 2006-07.

In all, the district was prepared to spend $80,000 in bonuses -- up to $10,000 for each of the eight principals.

The academies, with special programs and extended hours, are a key part of Superintendent Mark Roosevelt's improvement efforts. They enroll 3,494 of the district's 28,265 students.

Mr. Roosevelt tapped some of the district's most highly regarded principals for the academies and put them on the district's first pay-for-performance contracts for school administrators. The bonuses were meant to give the group an incentive for accepting the special challenges of opening the academies and pave the way for a pay-for-performance program for principals districtwide.

The inaugural bonuses, paid in the fall, ranged from $500 for Merridith Murray at Pittsburgh Rooney 6-8 on the North Side to $4,697 for Cindi Muehlbauer at Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8.

David May, Pittsburgh Northview PreK-5, received $1,427; Carolyn Davis, Pittsburgh Weil PreK-8 in the Hill District, $1,624; MiChele Holly, Pittsburgh King PreK-8 on the North Side, $2,129; James Nath, Pittsburgh Murray PreK-8 in Mount Oliver, $3,059; David May-Stein, Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 in Squirrel Hill, $3,328; and Verna Arnold, Pittsburgh Fort Pitt PreK-5 in Garfield, received $4,452.

Dr. Davis is on medical leave; the others are still at their schools.

The bonuses were in addition to the principals' base pay of about $100,000. Each bonus was based 50 percent on student achievement and 50 percent on other factors, such as student attendance and discipline rates, parent and community involvement and successful implementation of the America's Choice classroom-management program.

The district did not provide a breakdown showing each principal's bonus amounts for each goal. The district used various means, such as test scores and parent surveys, to measure a principal's effectiveness in each area.

District spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said the modest bonuses shouldn't be interpreted as criticism of the principals. Noting the academies' initial year was a challenging one, she said the performance review showed the district how it can better support the principals this school year.

Christiana Otuwa, the district's executive director of accelerated learning academies and middle schools, said she didn't have a projection about how well principals would do during the academies' first year.

"In all, we are pleased with the progress. But are we satisfied? No. We still have a long way to go," Dr. Otuwa said.

Mr. Roosevelt located most of the academies in disadvantaged neighborhoods, hoping the extended school day and year would boost achievement. The academies replaced existing schools but also took in students and teachers from other buildings the district closed after the 2005-06 year.

None of the academies made "adequate yearly progress," the federal performance standard measured by reading and math scores on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. But Ms. Arnold said she was pleased with much of what occurred at Fort Pitt.

"It was a very good experience. We enjoyed the work we were doing," she said.

While only 27.6 percent of Fort Pitt students scored proficient or better on the PSSA reading test, 63.8 percent did so in math. The state targets were 54 percent proficient or better in reading and 45 percent or better in math.

In addition to the math scores, Ms. Arnold said she was proud of how teachers embraced the America's Choice package of teaching strategies and curriculum supplements. She said Fort Pitt was "off to a fast start" in 2006-07 because students stayed with the same teachers for a second year.

Ms. Murray declined comment. The other six principals didn't return phone calls.

To promote accountability, Mr. Roosevelt has put all district principals on pay-for-performance contracts this school year.

Each will be eligible for up to $12,000 in bonuses, including $2,000 that can accrue as base pay. Academy principals will be eligible for the same $12,000 as colleagues districtwide, plus they'll again be eligible for up to $10,000 for running the academies.