That appointment will give them unprecedented authority to determine school times, curriculum and even the annual school calendars.

The new “community hub” strategy is an attempt to tackle a long-standing culture of low expectations and disastrous educational outcomes – with the power to best mix its school priorities to its students and community.

Hillvue Public School has 252 enrolments and according to the Myschool website, 71 per cent of the student body identifies as Aboriginal.

Unlike some other schools named to participate in Connected Communities, it has a much higher attendance rate, at 91 per cent.

At Wilcannia Public there are 120 enrolments, 98 per cent of the population identifies as Aboriginal and attendance rates sit at 64 per cent.

Under the scheme executive principals will be paid a salary package of more than $200,000 a year, put on five-year contracts and offered a $50,000 performance bonus at contract end – making them the

highest-paid public principals in the state.

The 15 schools include Hillview Public; Boggabilla Central; Toomelah Public; Wilcannia Central, Walgett Central; Bourke Public and Bourke High; Moree East Public and Moree Secondary College; Coonamble High and Coonamble Public; Taree Public and Taree High; Brewarrina Central and Menindee Central schools.

All teachers at these schools will have the choice of staying or transferring to another school.

The new principals will also be expected to lead and co-ordinate existing programs run by other government agencies, non-government organisations and communities themselves.

Police may be stationed in schools but would report to the principal under the new initiative, announced by Premier Barry O’Farrell late Tuesday night.

Health and preschool services will also be shifted into the schools, where appropriate and the communities would be encouraged to see schools as a seven-days-a-week resource rather than facilities that shut their gates at 3pm.

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli, said the focus needed to be on engaging local communities and responding to their needs as directly as possible.

Schools will work with pregnant mothers and offer at least two years of preschool to every child.

Aboriginal languages will be made an integral part of the curriculum.

"The very strong message is that those communities don’t want solutions thrust upon them. They want solutions they are a part of,” Mr Piccoli said.

The new pay structure is designed to stop the high turnover of school leaders.

In the 15 Connected Communities schools, the authority will extend as far as the right to change the style of teaching and learning, alter school hours and even rework the school calendar.

Minister Mr Piccoli cautioned that no one should expect short-term improvements.

"These are very difficult and complex communities,” he said.

“We’re not expecting to change the world in two years.

“This is not a five-year commitment: this has got to be a 10- and 20-year commitment.

“There is already vast amounts of money spent and there has been the best intentions but it just hasn’t worked. We are doing something different."

An executive director to oversee the Connected Communities Strategy will be appointed in July, and executive principals selected in October.

The officers will then hold community workshops and other key preparation before the Connected Communities Strategy is fully operational from the start of the 2013 school year.