Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 14, 1990 TAG: 9003142563
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Floyd County Education Association Vice President Reba Goff praised the School Board for the teacher pay increases it proposes.
"I'd like to thank you for your continued support of the 5 percent salary increases," Goff told the board. "When the state legislature finished up its session, it approved the Senate version of the budget. That means the 5 percent increase is the state mandate."
Check Elementary PTA President Elizabeth Williams distributed a letter from the association. It called for the issues of overcrowding, lack of supplies, and maintenance problems at Check to be addressed in the upcoming budget.
Her husband, Ben Williams, pointed to the state of disrepair and the lack of available restrooms at some schools' playground facilities.
The board discussed the facilities problems but did not take any action. Board member Doug Phillips suggested that having a custodian on duty after hours may solve some of these problems.
As a parent of a child at Check, Elizabeth Williams also spoke out against the use of combination classrooms - two grades in the same class.
School Board Chairman Dale Profitt said it was the position of the board to not use combination classrooms "if we can help it."
The board will meet Friday at 7:30 a.m. to make final budget amendments. It must include an additional $5,054 received in federal drug-abuse prevention money in the budget. Also, any changes needed because of changes in state allocations will be made.
Once approved by the School Board, the budget will be sent to the Board of Supervisors.
The School Board also gave its approval to three matters concerning the family life curriculum.
The board adopted the "Discover: Skills for Life" series of texts for kindergarten through sixth grade. It delayed implementation of the parenting skills unit for 11th- and 12th-grade students until the 1991-92 school year. And it approved a form that would be used by parents and guardians if they did not want their children to participate in all or part of the curriculum.
Chairman Profitt said the board would consider attendance zone transfer requests at the June meeting. The deadline for requests was set at May 31. These transfer requests are the result of changes in elementary attendance zones that go into effect next year.
Also, it was announced the Floyd schools joined the Senior Tryout Program. This program, administered through the state Department of Rehabilitative Services, helps handicapped youths get jobs by providing a variety of incentives to their employers.
by CNB