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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 13, 1991                   TAG: 9103130328
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FLOYD                                LENGTH: Medium

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CONCERNS HEARD AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Administrative Assistant David Harman gave a presentation on the progress of implementing the state-mandated curriculum, which includes sex education.

Earlier during public comments, Gene Bishop of Indian Valley requested the board to make sure the alternative classes for children whose parents keep them out of family life classes are "worthwhile and meaningful."

Harman estimated that the schools will be covering all the requirements of the program for kindergarten through grade 10 by the end of the school year.

He said he will form a team within the next few weeks to help him go through the more controversial material, which begins at about the third-grade level.

Harman added that many of the topics required under family life were already covered in such subjects as social studies, health and drug education. And later additions to the program will include parenting skills.

Bishop, who opposes the concept of family life education, told the board he realized it had to implement it because of state law. But he wanted to make sure those who elect not to participate benefit from the alternative classes and not be stigmitized.

"The board should spend an equal amount on family life and the opt-out program," Bishop said. "The board should take advantage of the opportunity to offer alternatives which are worthwhile and meaningful" and good enough that some parents not opposed to family life may prefer the alternative classes for their children, anyway.

In other business, Superintendent Omar Ross gave the board his new version of the proposed budget. He had moved $20,000 from capital outlay to operating items.

"Basically this is to get us above the minimum amount for the [state] standards of quality requirements," Ross said.

A public hearing on the budget will be held at 4:30 Friday afternoon.

The board also decided that employees who want to take early retirement should notify school officials between April 1 to June 30.

A request from Floyd County High School to subscribe to Channel 1 - a commercial-supported news and educational programming service available to high schools - was tabled.

And the board approved County Administrator Randy Arno's request to erect a flag pole at the high school's athletic fields using private funds. Arno, who said he was appearing before the board as a private citizen, said he would be willing to go door-to-door to raise money for the project.