
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 3, 1990                   TAG: 9006300198
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: PEARISBURG                                LENGTH: Short

COLLEGES, GILES COUNTY SIGN SCHOOL AGREEMENT

Giles County has signed an agreement with New River Community College and Virginia Tech to allow students in the Vocational-Technical School to have dual enrollment in high school and NRCC.

Giles County School Superintendent Robert McCracken said that in the past "the majority of the programs focused on technical skills, now they were trying to go beyond that to give students opportunities in business management."

Students in such vocational programs as auto repair, cosmetology, drafting, nursing, under the new program earn a two-year degree from NRCC.

Credits from NRCC could then be applied to a four-year degree in business management from Tech.

Other counties in the program include Montgomery, Floyd and Pulaski.

McCracken also announced that elementary grading systems are now consistent with the high schools'.

In the past, teachers were converting students' numerical grades to a four point system and then to a letter grade. Because of teachers' concerns about fairness of the grading, McCracken has implemented the straight numerical system that, according to Jim Wheeler, administrative assistant, is "more fair."

by CNB