Yet echoing the concerns of many parents who feel these programs have been highly successful for their children, McGrath is wary of eliminating existing structures.

"I think that I'm a little bit more conservative [than Willie] on whether or not to merge or join together programs," McGrath says.

McGrath says she feels that Cambridge's character does not correspond to large, single-program schools that Willie advocates.

McGrath is expected to submit her own series of recommendations to the School Committee in late March or early April.

But many of the consultants hired by the city are worried that any such alternative proposals might misconstrue the notion of quality schools.

"Part of the ideology about schools is that they will be good only if there is a plentiful supply of affluent white students," Willie says. "My experience is that that is not the basis of good schools."

Willie also expressed concern that when a decision is finally made, it will not be based upon the opinions of all those in the Cambridge community.

He argues that those who oppose his plan tend to come from the city's more affluent racial groups and economic classes.

But McGrath, who plans to retire in June, says she is committed to developing a city-wide consensus.

"I am going to go to every community, every school, every church--everyone will have a voice," McGrath says. "That's Cambridge."