Michael Shane Calvert, the new secretary of the La Martiniere schools, took charge on Monday with a promise to uphold the “independence” of the principals and focus on changing the public perception of both institutions.

“Principals must be at the front….They would need to take forward the legacy of La Martiniere in the direction that it is meant to be taken in….They are very crucial to the growth and progress of La Martiniere. I do not intend to interfere in their independence,” Calvert told Metro after a formal installation ceremony at La Martiniere for Boys.

Apart from his normal duties as secretary, Calvert’s role would be to ensure “smooth functioning and running of the two schools” and “assist the principals in academic matters”.

“I will give them support and guidance. But they must have the independence to function as principals,” he said.

The La Martiniere schools have been hit by allegations over the past few years about the two principals not having a say in the admission process.

The new secretary said he intended to try and change that. “The very fact that there has been so much of talk about the admissions indicates that there was no transparency. I am not making any claims, I am not making any allegations….Obviously the perception of the people has to change and that can only happen if they can sit back and say, ‘Yes, there is a positive change happening’.”

In the pipeline is a new building on the girls’ campus. The idea is to make sure that the “number of children in the classrooms are evenly distributed and you have a number that is comfortable”, Calvert said.

Metro had reported recently that the La Martiniere schools were looking to reduce their intake of students at the entry level and make classrooms more inclusive.

Probal Kanto Dutta, the bishop of the Calcutta diocese of the Church of North India, said the schools were trying to arrive at the ideal number. “Our emphasis will be on sticking to the numbers (vacancy at the entry level) given by the two principals.”