COLUMBUS — The local school superintendent wants the district out of state-imposed academic emergency before the 2003-04 school year.

        To do so, the district must achieve at least eight performance standards and meet minimum attendance standards set by the state, first-year Superintendent Gene Harris said Friday.

        “I know my goal to get out of academic emergency in just 18 months is a huge risk,” Ms. Harris told the Board of Education at a retreat. She said allowing children to fail is a bigger risk.

        Ms. Harris wants several improvements in place by the beginning of next school year. Among them:

        • Elementary, middle school and some high school teachers must complete courses to improve the way they teach writing by August.

        • Schools should provide after-school and Saturday programs for students who have failed or are at risk of failing writing proficiency tests.

        • The district will create an Office of Truancy, Pupil Attendance and Discipline that will work with Juvenile Court and city education and law enforcement officials.

        • Remedial courses will be offered for “overage and underachieving” students aimed at keeping them in school.

        “In my view, our emergency is an emergency for this city,” she said. “Somehow we have got to raise the value of education in this community.”

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