THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 7, 1995 TAG: 9512070336
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
The first of three finalists for the school superintendent's job met Wednesday with an advisory committee composed of district employees, citizens and business leaders.
Bob Bowers, who heads the South-Western City School District in Grove City, Ohio, gave a brief summation of his ideas about education and then answered questions for two hours.
The committee is part of the final interview process to find a permanent superintendent for the district. It will continue this week when Timothy R. Jenney, superintendent of Greenville County (S.C.) Schools, meets the committee Saturday while Beach interim superintendent James L. Pughsley meets with the panel Monday.
School Board Chairwoman June T. Kernutt said she expects the board to name a superintendent before Christmas.
Bowers said Wednesday that for school districts to survive they must have the support of parents. But because there are so many single-parent families today, districts must accommodate tight schedules in every way possible, such as making parent-teacher conferences at night an option for those who cannot meet in the day.
Bowers was asked about site-based management, in which decisions traditionally made by central office administrators are left to mid-level managers, such as principals. He said the idea cannot work without proper training of mid-level supervisors before they are asked to make decisions traditionally made by senior people.
Bowers said that students must graduate with sound communication skills - both written and oral - and proficiency in all areas of coursework, including teamwork problem-solving. He said that a four-year high school degree is insufficient training for successful workers in the 21st century and that those who choose less than a four-year college program must be given every opportunity to excel. by CNB