Chiara Coletti, of the Council of School Super visors and Administrators, says sports must take a back seat to academics.

When budgets are slashed as many times as they’ve been slashed for schools in New York City, there’s no room for principals to play.

They try to preserve their arts and sports programs, but they’re in a terrible, terrible fix.

Principals have to choose between a rock and a hard place. But slashing academics would make them bigger villains.

A lot of principals are finding themselves in this position because of the budget, but the priority is math, science, social studies and English.

The bottom line is getting these kids graduated. That’s a principal’s first obligation and they have to make the tough choices.