Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 19, 1991 TAG: 9103190293
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
They also rank things like improved pupil-teacher ratios and keeping elementary art, music and physical education programs higher in priority than such personal things as raises and improved benefits, according to a recent survey and discussions with teachers.
"I think that says something about our employees," Superintendent William Asbury told the county School Board last week. Teachers will discuss complete survey results at a half-day faculty meeting April 12.
Asbury mentioned the survey in connection with the budget being worked out by the School Board for the 1991-92 school year.
"Although not reflected in the budget survey," Asbury said, student discipline is "definitely the top priority of our teachers resulting from faculty brainstorming sessions conducted recently."
Because of this, he has proposed to the School Board a program of staff development aimed at improved classroom instruction and management at all levels. Leadership development programs also would be started.
The program would include a division-wide discipline policy representing the interests of students, parents and teachers and reflecting the values and priorities of the Pulaski County community, he said. A program of parent involvement would be developed to blend with the new discipline policies.
"Teachers must be able to teach without disruption," Asbury wrote in his budget report to the board. "Children who are unable or unwilling to respond to discipline in our classrooms must be provided the type of supervision and care that will enable them to learn a sense of responsibility and respect for each other, their peers and the adults in their lives."
This could include alternative programs at elementary, middle and high school levels as part of the county's overall educational plan.
"Alternative programs are aimed at the child who is unable, for whatever the reason, to exercise the type of self-control and self-discipline to enable him to function in a regular classroom setting without disrupting the teaching and learning process for the other students," the report said.
Other School Board priorities would include continuing to strengthen the county's teacher and principal corps, streamline administrative staffs, set aside $25,000 for a one-year program evaluation at Pulaski County High School, have computer-assisted instruction in place at all schools by September, start a long-range capital improvements program, improve communication and public relations efforts, and a program of research and development for exploring and implementing future educational programs.
Another priority is to find ways to eliminate disparities among county schools, Asbury said.
Much has been made of the disparity issue among urban and rural school systems in Virginia, but this effort would address disparities in Pulaski County, he said, where various schools differ in such areas as pupil-teacher ratios, field trip opportunities or amounts of playground equipment.
by CNB