A variety of new efforts will be aimed at improving academics and behavior at Duquesne Education Center when classes start Sept. 1 for kindergarten through eighth grade.

On Tuesday, the state board of control overseeing the district approved spending up to $149,850 for the Educational Leadership Initiative of the University of Pittsburgh to provide coaching, oversight and support services to the school.

Money for the program will come from the $1.4 million the district is expecting in stimulus funding, said Cheryl Fogarty, director of educational services for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and the superintendent of record for the Duquesne district. The intermediate unit manages the district.

Through the leadership initiative, Duquesne Principal Davaun Barnett will receive coaching on how to "observe and confer with teachers to improve the instruction using research-based observation protocols," according to information in the board's agenda packet.

Mr. Barnett also will receive coaching that will enable him to implement policies "to ensure a safe and productive environment to support a high level of student learning."

Pitt staff also will help to develop student leaders among the middle school students through the use of Outward Bound programs and other experiences.

The Educational Leadership Initiative staff also will introduce teachers to the Ed Insight data system that will help them to analyze and track student progress and use that information in their teaching plans.

In addition, the staff, which includes former Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Richard Wallace, will work on site to ensure that all facets of the various programs and organizations in the district work together.

In addition to bringing in the Educational Leadership Initiative, the board approved the creation of three new jobs that will create a student services department. The board named Eric Harper as student services coordinator and hired Montel Staples and Martina Vitalbo as full-time student services assistants.

The student services team will focus on students who are struggling in the classroom because of emotional, behavioral or disciplinary issues, Dr. Fogarty said.

She said district officials recognize that the middle school program in particular needs to focus on behavioral issues and developing leadership skills among students as much as it focuses on improving academics.

"We can't spend a lot of time on academics without addressing behavior," Dr. Fogarty said.

Another new initiative that will be introduced in the fall will be the Success for All restructuring program that looks at restructuring preschool through fifth grades and involves the use of one-on-one tutoring, cooperative learning and frequent assessment.

The district expects to use about $370,000 of its stimulus funding for the program.

In other action Tuesday, the board of control hired Victory Security Agency to provide temporary security services on an as-needed basis for the first semester of the school year.

In June, the board terminated the contract it had with four school police officers who had provided security for the district in recent years. At the time, board of control Chairwoman Audrey Utley said the district was considering hiring a school resource officer who could work with the student services department.

On Tuesday, Dr. Fogarty said district officials still are considering a school resource officer but have not worked out the details of such an arrangement. In the meantime, Victory Security Agency will provide security for the school.