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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991                   TAG: 9104110195
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FLOYD                                LENGTH: Medium

FLOYD SCHOOL BOARD OKS SPECIAL ED PLAN

Both plans need to be submitted this month. However, details of the program will be determined later.

The plan calls for the school system to devote about 25 positions to the program. This includes nine learning-disabled teachers, six aides, three speech therapists, two teachers for the metally retarded and two teachers for the emotionally disabled.

Bill Gardner, director of pupil personnel services, said there would be 314 students receiving special education in Floyd County next year. That is 17.3 percent of the system's enrollment - slightly higher than the norm of 13 to 14 percent.

"In the speech and language areas, we've had so many recommendations from the community," said Gardner. "And I look at it that we are preventing problems down the road."

The vocational education plan was based on the recommendations of the county's Vocational Education Advisory Council. The plan recommended the coordinator of the WSEP student employment program be given a 10 1/2-month contract; equipment reconditioning; and new courses in Education for Employment and Home Economics.

"Very few students go through Floyd County High School not having enrolled in a vocational class," Director of Vocational Education Calvin Rorrer said. He estimated that between 75 and 80 percent of the students at the high school take at least one vocational class.

The School Board has approved one of the recommended classes - Education for Employment - but has yet to take action on the remainder of the recommendations.

In other business, Floyd County Education Association President Reba Goff proposed that teachers be allowed to participate in the interview process for administrators.

"The teachers affected by the situation would like to be able to ask questions of the candidates," Goff said.

Superintendent Omar Ross reported on the results of the survey of parents on the use of school sites for early morning and after-school child care. He said he would continue to work on the matter with Creative Child Consultant Services of Christiansburg.

"It appears the response was good and a lot of people are interested, regardless of cost," Ross said.

The board set a special meeting for Monday, April 22 at 9 a.m., primarily to discuss the budget.