Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 30, 1990 TAG: 9006300109
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
"That started a good day," Chairman John McPhail said at Thursday's School Board meeting. He was referring to reports that Radford sixth-graders had topped all other New River Valley school divisions in the Virginia Literacy Passport test.
Radford's overall performance was second-highest in the state in the test's writing component.
"It speaks well for the entire community," McPhail said.
The board chairman attributed the scores to the city's "deep commitment to education." And he used the opportunity to again raise the issue of school funding disparities between Virginia's larger, more affluent districts and smaller, poorer ones such as Radford.
"What would it be if we had $6,500 per student to spend?" he asked rhetorically, noting that Radford's reading results were second only to Falls Church, where per-pupil spending is $3,000 higher than Radford's.
"It's affirmative of the effort and high level of motivation" within the system, said Superintendent Michael Wright. "We have a wonderfully talented group of youngsters," he added, noting that even those who did not pass missed by "one or two points."
"I was not surprised," said board member Carter Effler. "I think we in Radford expect our kids to be good."
Also Thursday, the board voted unanimously to accept the 1990-91 plan for gifted education. For the first time, the plan contains a provision to evaluate the program's effectiveness.
Frances Hunter, coordinator of the primary school gifted students' program, said the city has "maybe 280" gifted students in all. While that figure represents about 20 percent of Radford's school population, tighter entrance requirements imposed last year kept it from being even larger.
Martin Ellsworth, chairman of the gifted program's advisory committee, said stricter criteria had reduced to "maybe one third the number that would have been accepted."
"So it might be becoming more of a gifted program?" asked McPhail.
"Very much so," Hunter replied.
The board also unanimously adopted a crisis management plan aimed at handling a student's death or serious injury, as well as various social crises or natural disasters.
In outlining the lengthy document, Assistant Superintendent Virginia East said the plan was "to keep us from making mistakes."
She said the state-required plan will guide teachers and administrators in helping students and families to cope with crises. Much of the plan is devoted to dealing with an unexpected student death, but it also covers drug-abuse intervention and reaction to emergencies.
The board also agreed unanimously to send on to City Manager Robert Asbury a four-page list of capital improvement projects for the next five years.
The list, which had been requested by city officials, includes a band and art room at the high school at an estimated cost of $475,000.
The board also agreed to spend about $14,500 to replace the damaged kitchen floor in Belle Heth school.
by CNB