Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1991 TAG: 9104030439
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The decision was made in response to parents, who have complained since the changes were announced.
The revised schedule is a compromise that reacts to the worries of parents but meets some of the objectives of the School Board in changing the schedules in the first place, said Assistant Superintendent Steve Staples.
The administration had announced the new schedule in January aimed at standardizing the length of the school day for all students. It separated elementary and older students on bus routes, and started the secondary-school day earlier to prevent the loss of instructional time in the afternoons to extracurricular activities.
The schedule was criticized by parents in the Riner and Shawsville areas because of the separation of younger and older students. Some working parents use older children to watch their younger brothers and sisters in the mornings.
Few parents liked the earlier start for secondary students because of safety concerns about students waiting for buses early in the morning.
Under the revised schedule offered Tuesday, secondary students will start later and elementary and secondary students will continue to ride the same buses in the Riner and Shawsville areas. The day for all county schools will not start and end at the same time, but the day length will be the same - 6 1/2 hours for secondary students and six hours and 20 minutes for elementary students.
Pam Bandy, an officer with the Shawsville PTA, said she felt most people would accept the new schedules but urged the School Board to give parents a chance to look them over before they are made final. The preference of parents would be to leave the current schedule as it is, she said.
Also at the meeting, Superintendent Harold Dodge blasted the county Board of Supervisors for making another cut in the school budget. The supervisors cut $310,000 Thursday night when they approved the overall county budget, bringing the school operating budget to $38.64 million for next year, or $737,698 less than the current year's budget.
"I believe the budget ignores the children of the community; ignores [the School Board's] efforts to not only balance the budget, but to bring in a budget of less proportion; and ignores recent efforts by the state legislature to help wherever possible," Dodge said.
The board decided to use its April 16 work session to deal with the cut. With last week's cut, a loss of $1 million in state funds and another potential $481,000 from the state - which the supervisors say won't be passed on to schools - a total of $1.79 million has been taken away from the schools and the system has been weakened, Dodge said.
In other action, the School Board approved the payment of salary supplements for teachers next year who complete 20 hours of work or more toward advanced degrees.
The board also approved a school calendar that begins on Sept. 3, the day after Labor Day, and ends for pupils on June 11, 1992.
Finally Tuesday night, the board honored Jennifer Davie of Auburn High School, Heather Mullins of Blacksburg High School, Mike Nunley of Christiansburg High School and Donald Rakes Jr. of Shawsville High School as students of the month.
The revised school-day schedules are:
At Blacksburg High School and Middle School the day will begin at 8:10 a.m. and end at 2:40 p.m. At the Blacksburg elementary schools, the start will be at 9 a.m. and dismissal at 3:20 p.m.
The Christiansburg secondary schools will run from 7:50 a.m. until 2:20 p.m. The Christiansburg elementary schools, including Belview, will operate from 8:50 a.m. until 3:10 p.m.
At Riner, Auburn High School and Middle School will begin at 8:10 a.m. and dismiss at 2:40 p.m. Bethel will run from 9 a.m. until 3:20 p.m. and Riner Elementary School from 8:15 a.m. until 2:35 p.m.
The Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School will begin at 8:50 a.m. and dismiss at 3:10 p.m. Shawsville Elementary will run from 8:15 a.m. through 2:35 p.m. and Shawsville High School and Middle School will start at 8:10 a.m. and dismiss at 2:40 p.m.
by CNB