Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 11, 1992 TAG: 9201110327
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By NEAL THOMPSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WILDER DISPARITY PLAN QUESTIONED
Gov. Douglas Wilder's plan to avoid a lawsuit by balancing school funding among all districts is a step in the right direction - but a baby step, educators say.Wilder released a plan Thursday to reduce disparities between rich and poor school districts over the next six years. To do so, it would increase education spending by $360 million.
"Six years is an awfully long time for a phase-in," said Virginia Tech education Professor Kern Alexander. "I think that's an unreasonably long time to address these issues."
Alexander is a consultant for the Coalition for Equity in Educational Funding, a group of 31 rural school districts pressuring the state to balance its unequal system of giving money to districts.
The coalition had sued the state in November but dropped the suit a week ago after getting assurances from the General Assembly that something would be done during this session.
Wilder's plan now goes to lawmakers - who can approve it or improve it.
Alexander hopes for improvement.
"My own feeling is that a phase-in ought to be more like three to four years," he said.
Also, the $104 million Wilder suggested spending immediately on the problem for short-term improvements is not nearly enough, Alexander said.
"I would consider this a minimal kind of effort - [but] in the right direction." At least: "We're getting government to move a little bit."
Kenneth E. Walker, superintendent of Halifax County schools and chairman of the coalition, called Wilder's plan "a good first step."
He said the plan would improve things, but: "I don't believe it will be enough to resolve the disparity."
Norfolk Sen. Stanley Walker also said the plan is a positive step. He is chairman of a review committee that met with the coalition a week ago and promised action. That's what prompted the coalition to drop its suit.
Walker said Wilder's plan is a "good effort," but added, "There's nothing in there about where the money is coming from."
Wilder has said the plan would not take any money away from the wealthier school districts. He also rejected a suggestion that a 1-cent sales tax be used to solve the funding disparity.
Walker said the legislature might consider a new tax on cigarettes or another source of new revenue to finance the plan. But it's too early to be sure, he said.
His committee plans to meet next week and will have Wilder's plan further explained by Secretary of Education James Dyke.
Dyke said it is up to legislators to find the money. "That's what the General Assembly is going to have to look at," he said.
Some legislators were disturbed that Wilder offered such a plan without offering a way to pay for it.
"I have reached my exasperation point with this administration refusing to bite the bullet," said Sen. Joseph Gartlan Jr., D-Fairfax County, said. "It's almost time for the legislature to take this thing over and start to get it moving."
"It's fine to have some ideas of things you might be able to do to attack disparity problems, and it's nice people don't want to do a Robin Hood thing," said Del. Marian Van Landingham, D-Alexandria. "But the fact of the matter is we still have to raise the money somewhere if we're going to attack the problem."
The Associated Press contributed some information for this story.