THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 27, 1997 TAG: 9701270049
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 77 lines
Moseying down to the hotel's sauna, checking out Williamsburg's sights or just hanging out in hotel rooms after board work was done was not an option.
At the end of each day's work during the School Board's last two retreats, most board members just went home.
For the past two board retreats - one in July, the other last February - the nine-member board stayed in town instead of going to Williamsburg's Fort Magruder Inn, its retreat destination in recent years.
It changed locales primarily to save the district a little money. And the board will again take the stay-at-home approach for its upcoming weekend retreat, which begins Friday evening.
The board's November decision to make it a three-peat wasn't unanimous. But it was welcome in some quarters of the city as a symbol of good intentions.
``I have always been critical of the board going out of town (for retreats), especially with it being a financially strapped School Board,'' said parent Jackie Johnson, echoing a common sentiment.
There are pros and cons either way, she said. But ``in Portsmouth, I don't think we have any `good times' financially when it comes to the school district.''
At this weekend's retreat, board members will discuss plans and ongoing issues in a conference room of the Central Fidelity National Bank building downtown. The 1997-98 budget will probably be the biggest concern.
The board's two 1995 retreats, both at Fort Magruder Inn, totaled $6,520.
Most of that covered food and lodging for board members and a few district staff members, including the superintendent.
Last year, the board spent $1,159 for two Portsmouth retreats; that covered meals for board members and administrators there.
What did the district do with some of the retreat savings last year?
It was used to help cover expenses so several city students could participate in last year's Great Computer Challenge competition, a district spokeswoman said.
The money also helped pay 1996-97 membership fees so all schools could participate in Odyssey of the Mind - a creative, problem-solving competition.
Board Vice Chairman Ray A. Smith Sr. and board members Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr. and Louise Walden voted against staying in Portsmouth for the upcoming retreat.
Chairman Byron P. Kloeppel was absent that night.
Walden, who previously supported the idea, said the board could get its work done whether retreats were held in Portsmouth or elsewhere.
But going away, she said, provides less temptation to call home during breaks, or rush off after work's over - instead of socializing with board members to get to know them better or continuing informal discussions well into the night.
``It's good to get away every once in a while,'' she said.
Resident Billie Cook agreed.
``Although I'm appreciative of the fact that they've been sensitive to the bottom line, I think they should be able to exercise the option'' to have out-of-town retreats, Cook said.
Over at City Hall, the city spent $5,089 for the council's Williamsburg retreat last February, which several city staff members also attended.
At the council's retreat this past fall, it stayed in Portsmouth and paid only for lunch at a downtown restaurant, the city clerk said.
School board and city council members across the region typically use retreats as a time to deliberate and map out goals.
Some governing bodies keep most retreats local, with officials sequestered in a meeting room.
Others have overnight retreats out of town, with the thinking that it's easier to focus on work away from home, at a place with fewer distractions. By and large, that's been the prevailing view among Portsmouth board members in recent years, last year notwithstanding.
``I really think we're more productive out of town,'' said board member Charles H. Bowens II.
Like regular board or council meetings, retreats are open to the public.
But they typically aren't forums for citizens to speak out or join in discussions.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
RETREAT