Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 10, 1990 TAG: 9005110621
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Spring break will coincide with the Easter holiday.
Last year, members of the Salem Education Association opposed a proposed March 26-30 break that didn't coincide with Easter. Association members said then that the separate break would create confusion and excessive absences.
Despite their concerns, the board adopted that calendar. School Superintendent Wayne Tripp said not many students missed school around Easter this year, but "we did have concern expressed by staff and parents and members of the community."
Tripp said the calendar change is in response to those concerns.
Next year's spring break has been scheduled for the first week in April, which sent cheers through board chambers Tuesday night.
The calendar includes 182 student days - maintaining the number of days in the current calendar - 12 service days for teachers and six holidays. The first student school day is Sept. 4. The last is June 12.
The calendar includes seven make-up days, two of which are built into the calendar. Four of the seven are teacher-work days. Memorial Day, scheduled as a non-school day, would be rescheduled as a student day if needed.
Heavy pre-winter snowfall last year required Salem students to make up four days, one on a Saturday.
In another matter, the board, at the urging of advanced government students, agreed to consider removing all disposable Styrofoam products used in the Salem High School cafeteria. Students gave the board a petition signed by more than 700 people who supported doing away with Styrofoam products in the school cafeteria.
"With ecology in mind, we know that the disposal of the [Styrofoam] objects can and do cause irreparable damage to the earth and its atmosphere," the petition read. "Styrofoam releases 57 chemicals, including carcinogenic substances. Also, Styrofoam is a non-biodegradeable material that takes up landfill space."
In one month, Salem High and Andrew Lewis Middle schools use 1,000 four-ounce cups, 500 six-ounce cups, 500 12-ounce cups, 2,000 16-ounce cups, 5,500 nine-inch platters and 200 12-ounce bowls, students said.
Board member Walter Franke suggested the school system consider looking at alternatives to Styrofoam when it bids for products this summer.
In other business, the board:
Appointed John K. Finnerty as principal at East Salem Elementary School. Finnerty, now assistant principal at Andrew Lewis Middle School, will succeed James Kelly, who is retiring.
Reassigned Lewis Campbell, principal at Andrew Lewis Middle School, to Salem High School assistant principal. The board also reassigned Dale Foster, assistant principal at Salem High School, to Andrew Lewis Middle School as assistant principal.
The school system is taking applications for Campbell's position and expects to name a successor on June 12.
Voted to get new bids on repairing the roof at Salem High School and authorized the staff to use a consultant to help prepare specifications for the new bids. The board is rejecting some bids that came in April and get new bids based on new specifications.
Board members learned that repairs to the leaky, 13-year-old roof could cost as much as $100,000. That information was not available when the April bids were solicited.
Consultants also discovered in conducting tests last month that the roof contains asbestos material. Abatement of the asbestos material could cost $250,000, they estimated.
Adopted spelling textbooks to be used in elementary and middle schools through 1996.
by CNB