Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 8, 1990 TAG: 9006080479
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BY RICK LINDQUIST SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
"Virginia still languishes with the 28-odd states that treat their smaller [school] districts shabbily," said board member Chip Craig, who called on the statewide Coalition for Equity in Educational Funding to "lead, follow, or get out of our way."
"Little has been done but debate," added Craig, an attorney who has previously indicated he'd like to see the funding question argued in the courts.
Radford is among several less-populous school districts across the state that have joined the coalition, a newly formed non-profit group that is researching funding disparity issues. The coalition is chaired by Alleghany Highlands Superintendent Mark Pace.
The coalition plans to work through the Commission on Educational Opportunity for All Virginians - the Lemmon Commission - to document funding inequities between the commonwealth's larger and smaller districts and to persuade the General Assembly to address the issue.
But citing his own impatience, Craig said the coalition should "take some affirmative action within the next 60 days or we should form our own organization."
"Every day we delay, we cost this system and city money and deny our students educational equality," he said.
Board Chairman John McPhail echoed Craig's frustration.
"The research is there," he said, referring to studies done by the Virginia Educational Association. "I don't understand why they continue to research, and research, and research."
"I don't want to see this delayed to coincide with the report of the Lemmon Commission," McPhail added.
Other board members expressed fears that failure to push for action now might mean putting it off until after the General Assembly meets next year.
Craig said that at Radford's recent academic awards ceremony, he wondered "what we could be doing if we had the kind of funding they have in Fairfax and Alexandria."
McPhail called on the board to encourage the appointment of Superintendent Michael Wright to the coalition's steering committee to replace Pulaski County Superintendent James Burns, who leaves this month for a new position in Georgia.
At Craig's urging, Wright said he would invite Pace to address the board at the earliest possible meeting.
by CNB