Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990 TAG: 9006060366
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MARGARET CAMLIN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The cost of health insurance this coming year will increase by 8.1 percent, roughly $240,000 less than anticipated.
The savings will go toward art supplies and salaries for new art teachers. Only children in fourth and fifth grades are taught by professional art teachers now at the elementary level.
All other children are taught art by their regular classroom teachers.
It is not yet known how many more teachers can be hired with the additional money.
Only board member Marty Childress voted against using the money for art programs. He said it should be spent instead to expand remedial reading programs.
Board member Kimberly Helms also questioned spending the money for art programs. She said she has heard from many teachers that they do not have enough materials for their classrooms.
"Why not let each school put together a wish list" for supplies they still need, she said.
The board did not seem interested in either Childress' or Helms' ideas. "This comes under not policy-making, but management," Chairwoman Virginia Kennedy said of Helms' comments.
Kennedy suggested the board request that the administrative staff see that enough supplies are available.
During the board's executive, or closed, meeting, Montgomery County Education Association President Jennie Reilly also objected to the money going for art programs.
"Teachers were urged not to make unnecessary [health insurance] claims," Reilly said. "We worked hard for that."
Added outgoing President Susan Guard: "That $240,00 was saved by teachers. Why not return the favor" and spend the money on dental insurance or other rewards, she said.
Guard and Reilly said it's true many teachers are without adequate supplies for their classrooms.
In other action, the board voted to ask the Board of Supervisors for a supplemental appropriation of $4,228 for dues to the newly formed Coalition for Equity in Educational Funding.
The coalition is a group of school divisions which have banded together to ensure adequate state funding of education throughout the state.
Board member Donald Lacey objected to paying the dues. "I see nothing that we can benefit or gain from supporting" the coalition, he said. "That's $4,228 that we could use for another purpose."
Board member Richard Zody urged participation and said the coalition's budget is modest, given its enormous task.
"I think it's imperative that localities take the initiative instead of reacting to state policy," Zody said.
"If it should go to court, Virginia's going to lose," Zody said. He was referring to talk by some school superintendents of the need to sue the state for a more equitable system of giving money to local school systems.
"The board also voted to ask the supervisors for permission to spend $32,000 from its year-end balance on the Shawsville High School athletic field project."
by CNB