Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 15, 1990 TAG: 9003152416
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER BUREAU
DATELINE: INDEPENDENCE LENGTH: Medium
Del. Ford Quillen, D-Gate City, and state Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, fielded a variety of questions, including one concerning the possibility of Southwest Virginia filing suit against the state over funding disparities in education.
Quillen said the fact that Gov. Douglas Wilder has appointed a commission to study disparities and recommend ways to solve them seems already an admission that disparities exist. "So it may not be necessary [to sue]," he said. "You've won the lawsuit without having to bring it."
He said there is nothing wrong with rural localities getting together to bring the proper issues before the commission, analyzing its recommendations to see that they are constitutional, or hiring experts to do their own studies of disparities. Nor, he said, is there anything wrong with getting organized to bring a suit, if necessary, later.
"But I would wait and see what's recommended," he said. "I think there is a good-faith effort going on now. . . . You may get the results without the lawsuit."
Marye and Quillen suggested that localities study their school systems to see how they could be made more efficient, including possibly consolidating smaller schools.
"I don't know how any of you feel about small schools," Marye said, "but I would say that, given the opportunity in the future, you're going to want to take a look at your school system and make plans for consolidation somewhere along the line. I think that is going to be the trend of the future."
If rural schools attack funding disparities, Quillen said, they are going to have to show that they have tried to put existing funds to the best use.
"I think the trade-off is going to be, they're not going to allow us to run inefficient school systems," Quillen said.
by CNB