Fresh energy and vitality at the helm of the CedarBridge Academy board combined with a genuine "can do'' attitude has chairman Shaun Morris poised for success.

As a businessman, Mr. Morris claims that his plan is to excel at anything he embarks on.

"You have to set goals and be focused,'' he explained. "I'm not dealing with can't. We have to be extremely positive. Can't isn't in my vocabulary right now.'' Mr. Morris is a partner at law firm Appleby, Spurling & Kempe where he heads the Asset Finance team in the corporate law section.

"I have held this post for just over two years,'' he said, "and feel that I have really honed my management skills which I think aid me in the leadership role of the Board.'' A family man, Mr. Morris' outside interests include golf and cycling. He was chairman of the Berkeley Institute Alumni Association in the early 1990s and admits that his plate is now full with the chairmanship of CedarBridge.

While hesitant to reveal where he plans to send his children, who are now only two-and-half years and five months old, Mr. Morris pledged his commitment to the public system.

"If I'm going to be involved in public education,'' he said, "acting as an agent for positive change, then of course this is where I will send my children.'' "I went through public education, In fact, all my family went through it -- that's the system that I know,'' he stressed.

"We as a community need to support the system 110 percent. The teachers are down in the trenches doing their part.

"All of us have a choice in life to make as to which schools we place our children.'' "Over the years there has been a lot of negativity with the public system,'' he said. "Our challenge is to turn that around.'' Mr. Morris said he believes that the problems facing public education can be beat and points out that failure is not an option: "It will happen,'' he assured. "We as a country have to play our role because we simply cannot survive without a good and sound public education system.

"This country as sophisticated as it is, will just not survive otherwise.'' Mr. Morris attributes much of his confidence that things will change for the good to his fellow board members and CedarBridge principal Kalmar Richards.

"She is a Godsend,'' he said, "and I have a very enthusiastic board.'' "This is certainly a new day and therefore we've adopted new strategies,'' he added. "We are looking for strong participation from parents, students and teachers.

"The way I approach life, you have to set goals which you believe are achievable.'' Mrs. Richards presented the board with her goals which Mr. Morris said have been accepted and embraced. The targets include several initiatives relating to teachers, students and parents.

"At CedarBridge Academy we have set specific targets for teachers,'' he points out.

"We will be making great strides to get increased involvement at the PTSA level. Parental presence must be seen at the school. The children must see their parents taking part.'' Realising the growing socio-economic problems many students now face, Mr.

Morris also noted that the board was ready to address the challenge.

"There are a lot of challenges particularly with relation to children coming from family situations where there is a lack of parental guidance,'' he said.

"To negate that, we have employed special staff to act as counsellors to the students.

"Everything we do will be to enhance the quality of life for each and every one of our students.'' Careful to point out that he "is under no illusions'' as to the task ahead of him, Mr. Morris said he felt the goals were achievable in just a few years.

"If we are able to sustain the effort we are investing now,'' he added, "we will be able to see the fruit of that labour in three to four years.''