For the second time in as many months, the Pittsburgh Public Schools is losing the principal of one of its new, high-profile schools.

Daniel E. Lentz's resignation July 1 comes even before the science and technology magnet, about two years in the planning, opens in August. The school will be housed at the Frick building in Oakland.

Mr. Lentz, an Ellwood City resident who has accepted a principal's position at Fox Chapel Area High School, couldn't be reached for comment yesterday. He joined the district about 11 months ago at a salary of about $102,000.

In April, Sito Narcisse, principal of Pittsburgh's year-old university-partnership school in the Hill District, announced he would resign at the end of the school year. Dr. Narcisse, who joined the district in May 2008, said he was leaving because his wife accepted a job in New York.

Mr. Lentz's resignation had a domino effect, prompting the school board last night to vote to shuffle a number of principals.

Robert Scherrer, principal at Pittsburgh Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill, will replace Mr. Lentz at the sci-tech school. Melissa Friez, principal at Pittsburgh Peabody High School in East Liberty, will move to Allderdice. Kellie Abbott, a principal at central office, was assigned to Peabody.

Fox Chapel officials weren't immediately able to say what Mr. Lentz's salary will be.

Pittsburgh school Superintendent Mark Roosevelt and board member Jean Fink, chairman of the personnel committee, said they didn't believe the sci-tech school's opening would be adversely affected by Mr. Lentz's resignation. However, board member Randall Taylor said he was troubled by the resignations of Mr. Lentz and Dr. Narcisse.

"You recruit people for the long term. I find it surprising people would take a job not understanding it's long term," he said.

The sci-tech school will open in August with 250 students in grades six through nine. In later years, it will grow to accommodate 550 students in grades six through 12.

Mr. Lentz came to Pittsburgh after four years at Freedom Area School District, where his main role was assistant high school principal. His work included projects involving technology and high school renewal.

Sci-tech and Pittsburgh Milliones 6-12 -- the university-partnership school -- are key components of the district's efforts to overhaul secondary education.

Sci-tech will allow students to earn a special honors diploma and concentrate studies in four scientific fields. A special curriculum will require students to work with industry, academia and nonprofit groups on research projects.

The board also voted to have two principals change schools.

Carla Berdnik will move from Pittsburgh Linden K-5 in Point Breeze to Pittsburgh Woolslair K-5 in Bloomfield, and Victoria Burgess will move from Wooslair to Linden. Mr. Taylor complained that the transfer was orchestrated by a handful of parents critical of Ms. Berdnik.