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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 1, 1992                   TAG: 9201010007
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: Neal Thompson
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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NAMES IN '91

Roanoke schools Superintendent Frank Tota may be glad he didn't get that job in Boston.

Tota is still cruising in Roanoke, while Boston's new supe barely has enough time to brush herself off between scuffles.

Lois Harrison-Jones was named superintendent last June - the first black woman and the eighth permanent superintendent in 20 years to lead the troubled system.

Since summer, Harrison-Jones has weathered a bus strike, a teachers strike and the dismantling of Boston's elected School Committee, which is to be replaced by an appointed board.

She and Tota were among three finalists for the job. Tota withdrew from consideration amid speculation that he wanted to save face should the job not go to him.

Michelle Williams heads the consulting firm that did Boston's search. She said recently that it was a tossup between Harrison-Jones and Tota and that Tota probably dropped out too soon.

Tota, who turned 53 last month, has 1 1/2 years left on his Roanoke contract and two years before he can retire. He said recently he hasn't decided on his plans for the next few years.

Keywords:
YEAR 1991

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