NORTON - The biggest change awaiting Norton students this fall is in the middle school principal's office.

Christopher Baratta takes over for Roger Parent, who retired this summer after seven years at the helm.

Baratta, 45, of Mansfield, has been principal of Taunton's Joseph H. Martin Middle School since 2004.

Superintendent Patricia Ansay said she hopes to have Baratta here full time when classes resume on Wednesday, Sept. 3. He has been fulfilling his Taunton contractual obligations for giving notice, she said.

"Because he's a person of integrity, he's doing everything he can to make sure that (Taunton) school is ready for the fall," Ansay said. Tech expansion

Using iPods, blogs and the like to expand Norton's classroom walls will be a focus this year, she said. Working groups are helping school officials develop plans.

"We're not taking advantage of what our students can do with technology," Ansay said.

"It appears to me that when they arrive at our front door in the morning, they've checked their technology in their backpacks."

Ansay sees technology promoting learning through projects rather than through facts, "the kind of thing they can access in seconds. They all can."

"Our kids could actually watch a lesson being conducted in India," Ansay said.

"Those opportunities certainly exist, and we will be participating in some of those, without question."

Ansay also anticipates expanding students' learning opportunities closer to home.

She said she recently contacted the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth about creating a dual enrollment program for Norton students.

She expects it will launch during this school year. "The chancellor is in favor of that association," Ansay said.

Wheaton College and Bristol Community College offer dual enrollment to Norton students, she added.

Wheaton this year will offer CPR training to Norton students in grades five and up, possibly starting this fall, Ansay said.

"It makes the general community of Norton a lot safer when you have so many people with that skill," she said.

A grant Wheaton has received will fund the program.

Norton students may decline to participate, Ansay said. School officials will send a letter home detailing the program.

Meanwhile, parking has expanded at Norton High School. About 40 student spaces have been added this summer. Last year, Norton High had 177 student parking spaces and 100 for staff, school officials said.

"We've been short on parking, so that's a great opportunity," Ansay said.

Not-so-great is a $100 athletics user fee increase.

Students now will pay $250 per sport, with a family cap of $500 per year.

MICHAEL GELBWASSER covers Norton for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.