By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – One of the first official acts of new school superintendent William Hite, is to create an Office of Student Services.

The mission of the office is to examine the things students need to keep them in school, freeing up the academic offices to concentrate on curriculum and instruction, says new Student Services chief Karyn Lynch.

“We are going to focus on things like discipline, climate, safety. We’re going to look at things like attendance, the culture and the climate of schools. We’re going to work hand in hand with principals in order to ensure that these things happen,” says Lynch.

Lynch headed a similar office for William Hite in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

She says while there will be some direct interaction with students, she expects her office will spend a lot of time looking at data and making recommendations.