Superintendent Gene Harris revealed an aggressive timeline last night to upgrade education in Columbus schools, using the new tax dollars that voters approved last month.

Moving at what she called warp speed, Harris wants to open four new college-preparatory schools beginning in the 2010-11 school year.

By August, she will have implemented a longer school day, created smaller class sizes in early grades, and hired more teachers, counselors and security staff members, according to her timeline.

District officials also named 11 schools that will receive renovated or newly constructed buildings during the next four years.

Voters approved a levy in November that will funnel $77 million a year into Columbus schools. That ballot measure also included a bond issue, worth a total $164 million, to fund school construction and to purchase buses, textbooks and technology.

"I'm really excited," board member Carol L. Perkins said after Harris' presentation. "There are a lot of good initiatives on the horizon. It's time to roll up our sleeves."

Expansion of the district's language-immersion programs also was prevalent in Harris' plan.

She is considering making one of the four new schools a language-immersion high school, where students would choose to be taught in French or Spanish. She will reveal plans for at least two of the new schools in July, according to her timeline.

The existing elementary and middle-school language-immersion programs will be housed in a renovated school building as part of the construction program funded by the bond issue.

Harris also wants to add Mandarin as a third language-immersion program, she said yesterday.

Eight other schools will be renovated or rebuilt as part of the four-year plan:

• Alum Crest High/Clearbrook Middle, consolidated in one new building.

• Cedarwood Elementary, new building.

• Clinton Elementary, renovated and expanded.

• Georgian Heights Elementary, new building.

• Liberty Elementary, new building.

• Linden-McKinley High, renovated and expanded to include grades seven and eight.

• Olde Orchard Elementary, renovated and expanded.

• Starling Middle, new building, possibly with elementary grades added.

Harris said the district won't begin to assess what schools to close until next fall and gave no details on what cuts would be made. She made a campaign promise to cut at least $18 million a year through 2012 and close six schools, but she said last night that the number of schools might change, based on enrollment.

A draft schedule for the lengthened school day will be revealed in January, Harris said.

The change likely will mean an earlier start for many students, restoring time cut in 2006 to save money.

About 40 minutes will be added to the middle- and high-school day, and 15 minutes to 30 minutes to the elementary day.

New buses will begin rolling in August, as well. Half the fleet will be replaced by 2012, district officials have said.

District officials will hold six community meetings in coming weeks to discuss the changes and other topics. The first is 6 p.m. Monday at Lincoln Park Elementary, 579 E. Markison Ave.

ssebastian@dispatch.com