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

DATE: MONDAY, February 11, 1991                   TAG: 9102110060
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

SENATE TO LOOK AT BAN/ PUSH IS ON FOR VOTERS TO PICK SCHOOL BOARDS

Despite petitions from some Tidewater and Northern Virginia jurisdictions, the legislature has reaffirmed the ban on elected boards every year. But this session, things could change.

Hundreds of people, both for and against a proposal to allow elected school boards, are expected to attend a Senate panel's public hearing Tuesday on the issue.

Those who support elected school boards say elected boards are more accountable and democratic.

"If they don't represent my views, and if they don't do what is in the best interest of my child, I [want to] have a mechanism where I can change the way the system runs," said James Murphy, who lobbies for elected school boards on behalf of Fairfax County's 190 Parent Teacher Associations.

But others say appointing board members works fine and should stay in place. "The bottom line is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it," said Frank Barham, director of the Virginia School Boards Association.

Virginia is the only state that does not allow voters to elect school board members. Its unique system was formed from a desire to keep blacks and Republicans from getting seats on school boards.

But appointed boards continue long after most people have abandoned the idea of keeping some people off them. And Del. Kenneth Melvin, D-Portsmouth, who is black, said more minorities have been appointed to school boards than have been elected to local government offices.

The House has passed the current bill, which would allow voters in Northern Virginia and some Tidewater divisions to decide next year whether to elect school boards, beginning in 1994.

Supporters say it is wrong to allow people who are not hired and fired at the polls to decide important educational issues. But many legislators and educators said there is potential for demagoguery.

Unless school boards are granted autonomous taxing power - unlikely because it would require an amendment to the state constitution - they could pass programs for which supervisors might not levy taxes.

Many people also fear elections would be dominated by single issues, such as firing a principal or stopping certain educational programs.

But Brickley says democracy is better than its absence. He said the increased strength of Northern Virginia and other suburban areas - where support for elected school boards is highest - makes it inevitable that the legislature will get over its "fear of the unknown" and pass the bill.