When the Cambridge School Committee meets tonight, top school administrators' jobs will be on the line--and so will the reputation of a body that prided itself last year on achieving consensus but now faces deep divisons.

Last spring, the committee passed a major curriculum restructuring of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) and a merger plan for two elementary schools. Both votes were unanimous and members congratulated themselves on working out their differences.

The vote on CRLS created a system--for a year--that randomly placed incoming ninth-graders into the high school's five "small school" learning communities. In the past, parents were able to select a "small school" (each with distinct teaching styles) for their children.

Two weeks ago, ill will replaced praise on the school committee.

In a late-night vote last month, the school committee split four-three to oppose a proposal by district administrators to keep the school assignment process random.

Tonight, at the request of Mayor Anthony D. Galluccio, the committee will reconsider its decision that effectively supports parent choice in selecting their child's school at CRLS.

Since the vote, committee members who opposed the district administrators' proposal have faced a ferocious volley of criticism from parents who want to keep the selection process random at the high school.

CRLS Principal Paula M. Evans has said she will resign if the committee does not reconsider the vote tonight and reverse its decision.