Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 29, 1990 TAG: 9007310318
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES M. TURNER JR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
For the record, Frank Tota's contract, approved by the School Board last year, is for four years. It provides for an annual salary of $90,915; an annual annuity contribution of $11,900; and other fringe benefits, including an early-retirement option making him eligible for the same program offered last year to other school personnel.
In effect, it makes the superintendent eligible to receive 35 percent of his salary at age 55, continuing through his 62nd birthday. The contract was approved with the understanding that it could be improved in any or all years of its duration, depending on performance.
Over the past nine years under Dr. Tota's leadership:
Magnet programs, using more than $8 million won in competitive grants, have reduced racial isolation. We have endeavored to improve how we educate the individual student with new curriculum programs for all students - remedial, average and gifted. The junior-high schools have been changed to middle schools, and the system took the lead in bringing the Governor's School for Science and Technology into the Roanoke Valley and in establishing the Center for Instructionally Talented Youths (CITY School) for our seniors.
Student performance has improved to above the norm for school divisions with high levels of disadvantaged students. Improved guidance programs have reduced our high-school dropout rate from 17 percent to below the state average of 4 percent. Alternative-education programs have been improved, and programs introduced for disadvantaged 4-year-olds.
We have striven to increase college-scholarship awards to our seniors; this year, our graduates received more than $1.25 million in scholarships. During the past several years, we have had many Merit and Westinghouse scholars. Graduates have gone to such nationally known institutions as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale and Princeton, as well as to the fine colleges and universities in our state.
More than 21 businesses now support our schools, which last year provided volunteers equivalent to 60 full-time positions. Out of this has grown the Tomorrow's Teachers program, wherein Virginia Tech and local businesses award full scholarships to Roanoke's future minority teachers.
As a result of these and many other efforts, the U.S. Department of Education has given national recognition to William Fleming High School, and James Madison and Breckenridge middle schools; the state has recognized Ruffner Middle School and Raleigh Court School. Our staff-development program for training and evaluation has also received national recognition.
All of this has been accomplished while spending significantly less than such systems as Roanoke County, Charlottesville and Richmond during the past nine years. Because of such achievements, the superintendent has received high marks in his annual evaluations in the five years I have been on the board. The difficult task is deciding how to compensate him appropriately.
Many factors were considered in arriving at the contract offered last year, including Tota's tenure as compared to other superintendents in the state, his compensation as compared to theirs, and the particular challenges of a school system that has grown from 15 percent to 44 percent disadvantaged over the past nine years. Also entering the equation were such considerations as possibile elimination of the superintendent's job if Roanoke City and Roanoke County consolidate.
Last year, the board was intent on keeping Tota in Roanoke because of the outstanding job he has done and continues to do. His contract was the subject of many meetings of School Board members over a number of months. Very little written material was sent to board members because of the sensitivity of the negotiations and the need for confidentiality.
However, each member was, or had ample opportunity to become, aware of the terms under consideration. Moreover, a draft of the model contract (which served as a basis for the superintendent's contract)and other documents were available for review by members at the School Board office. Unfortunately, some did not avail themselves of this information before formal presentation of the contract for approval.
Our concern over confidentiality was borne out recently. Confidential information concerning the School Board's deliberations over the superintendent's compensation this year was given to a Roanoke Times & World-News reporter prior to our School Board meeting of June 21. Not only was the reporter advised of the compensation increase that had been privately discussed, but also a related document, provided me by a private organization on a confidential basis, was shared with or given to the reporter. This document had been mailed to members of the School Board with a letter from me expressly asking that its confidentiality be maintained.
I became aware that this information was in the hands of the press on the day preceding our meeting, where the superintendent was to be evaluated and a decision made as to any increase in his compensation. I suggested it would not be an appropriate time to act on the superintendent's contract because of the breech of confidentiality. The board agreed, and the matter was tabled.
I anticipate that this will be back before the board in the near future. I do not know what action the board will take. But I think that, among other things, the more than $8 million in competitive grants in the past four years will be considered.
A large portion of this sum was for magnet-school programs. Of the more than 16,000 school divisions in this country, only 54 have been selected for such grants. This year, ours is the only division in Virginia to receive a magnet-school grant from the federal government. These funds, as well as other grants, have allowed our system to deal more effectively with the challenges of an urban school district.
Incidentally, the grants more than cover the superintendent's salary; this occurs in only a small number of school systems throughout the nation. Our system ranked 27th nationally in receipt of federal money through competitive grants, yet our superintendent's salary last year ranked 100th of 155 urban school superintendents. The superintendent's salary has increased significantly since his initial contract, but so I am pleased to report, has the average salary of our teachers. The superintendent's salary (including annuity payments) through last year had increased 77 percent; during the same period, the average salary of city teachers has increased more than 99 percent.
The superintendent's early-retirement package appears in line with those granted to top city officials and City Council, adopted, I understand, in anticipation of the possibility of consolidation. Recently, the city's 16-year municipal auditor announced his retirement. According to a report in this newspaper, he will receive 60 percent of his salary for life, or approximately $30,600 per year. The city manager and other top officials have significant early-retirement benefits for which they are eligible, as is the superintendent, at 55. Unlike the superintendent's, however, theirs is a lifelong benefit.
In my judgment, our school system is in excellent shape due in large part to the leadership provided by Tota. I am proud to be able to say this when you consider the problems confronting our society. We have a system that has achieved national recognition, and is meeting the needs of our students and their families.
by CNB