Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502140014
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Under the plan, several other school systems in Western Virginia also can preserve special programs that target children who have a high risk of having academic problems or of dropping out.
Richard Kelley, assistant superintendent for operations for Roanoke schools, said the dropout prevention program costs $256,000 a year.
Under the Democrats' plan, the state would provide $286,494 per year to Roanoke to restore the dropout program and other special services for at-risk students.
"We are getting close to 85 to 90 percent of what we had expected for dropouts and other things," said Kelley. The dropout program would be fully restored, but some other special programs would not.
Roanoke's dropout program has seven counselors and three aides who work with potential dropouts as early as sixth grade to keep them in school.
Roanoke has a dropout rate of 6.7 percent, one of the highest in the western part of the state.
The leaders in the fight for more money for the state's poorer school districts said they are encouraged by the Democrats' plans.
"I feel very positive about what the General Assembly is doing. They have restored a lot of dropout money," said Ken Walker, chairman of the Coalition for Equity in Educational Funding.
Walker sees the fund restoration as a good omen for next year, when the coalition plans to make a concerted effort to get more state money.
The disparity battle has shifted from the courtroom to the legislative halls since the Virginia Supreme Court ruled last year that the state's school funding formula was constitutional.
Walker, school superintendent for South Boston and Halifax County, said the coalition knew funds would be tight this year, but it appreciates the legislators' effort to restore the money.
Montgomery and Botetourt counties will benefit substantially, too, by the restoration of the funds.
"It will help," said Clarence McClure, Botetourt County's superintendent.
House Republicans have contended that almost every Virginia school system would get more education dollars next year even with Allen's budget cuts.
Allen proposed eliminating $10.5 million in grants statewide for dropout prevention and other such programs.
Allen said school divisions may use "at-risk" funds - which go to schools with a large number of students from low-income families - to continue their programs.
But the localities said the increase in at-risk funds wouldn't come close to making up the dropout money they would lose.
Last year, the General Assembly approved a $103 million funding package to help reduce the gap between poor and rich school divisions. Allen recommended that these funds be continued for another year, but he proposed cuts in certain categories such as dropout prevention programs.
Walker said the coalition is looking ahead to the 1996 General Assembly session when Allen will submit a new budget and a new budget will be approved.
The disparity funds have provided several hundred thousand dollars to some school systems in Western Virginia and more than $1 million to Roanoke.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
by CNB