Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 2, 1993 TAG: 9302020271
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE TOURS SCHOOLS
One of Roanoke Valley's own came home Monday in pursuit of Roanoke's top school administrative position.E. Wayne Harris, an area superintendent for Fairfax County schools, was the second of two school superintendent finalists to make a whirlwind tour of the city's school community.
Herbert Cottrill, assistant superintendent of finance for Charlottesville schools, visited Roanoke on Thursday. A third finalist, Willis B. McLeod, dropped out of the running Friday.
Harris, who was born and raised in Salem, has been wooed by other school systems across the country. His only serious application was for the Roanoke post.
"I've had my eyes on Roanoke since Dr. Tota announced he was retiring," Harris said. "I am passionate about wanting to work as superintendent of this school division.
"And my mom and dad and my oldest son live here. If things get too rough, I can go see Mom."
Harris, 47, is considered one of the most promising top administrators in Fairfax schools. He oversaw roughly one-quarter of the county's public schools before taking a yearlong leave of absence to participate in a doctorate program for urban superintendents at Harvard University.
His administrative area of 37 schools and 27,000 students had some of the highest concentrations of minority students, particularly immigrants who spoke little English.
Harris now works directly with Fairfax County School Superintendent Robert Spillane.
Monday, Harris fielded questions from parents, teachers and school administrators at a series of meetings and receptions.
On how he would promote school safety: "I want to make sure all students and parents understand what rights and responsibilities each student had. We should ensure parents and grandparents that when we receive your child, your child will be safe. I'd be lying to you if I said I had a plan. But I won't tolerate guns, I won't tolerate violence and I won't tolerate drugs."
Harris noted that nine out of 10 guns brought into schools come from homes, not the street. "I'm not trying to take a stance on gun control but that's an issue we can solve."
On education funding: "Yes, we need more dollars. We need to take a look at getting the most mileage out of the dollars we have; rethink how we budget and take a hard look at what we do. That means we may have to ask if all of those things need to continue to be done. I think there is a lot you can do to raise the level of achievement that may not require a lot of money."
On teacher salaries: "If we're losing the best and brightest teachers to surrounding districts, we have to raise salaries to keep teachers. You have to pay people what they are worth. The economy is not at a point where you can do all the things you want to do. But we have to pay our teachers if we want to keep them."
On magnet schools: "They are meeting the diverse talents of students. Learning is not all about content. It's the ability to create and think. I would work to maintain the magnet program. It offers choice based on particular interest or talent."
On parental involvement in schools: "We couldn't do our job without you being there. We need you to be in the schools, to be visible."
On alternative education: "It's difficult to put together a large number of students who have had difficulty, without providing an adequate amount of resources. But if we don't provide education for these kids, then we'll deal with them in the courts and take money away that could be used to fund education."
State law requires that the School Board have a new superintendent under contract by March 1. The board had expected to make a selection by Feb. 16 but with McLeod's withdrawal, a selection could come sooner, board member Nelson Harris said.