BOARD PASSES NEW RESOLUTION SEEKING MORE AID FROM STATE

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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 25, 1992                   TAG: 9201250158
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium
BOARD PASSES NEW RESOLUTION SEEKING MORE AID FROM STATE
The School Board has passed its second resolution in as many months urging additional state money for education.
The board's unanimous vote came Thursday after Radford Education Association President Diane Mullis requested the board adopt an REA resolution supporting "increases in alternative revenue sources at the state level" and to "narrow the gap in Virginia's funding disparities."
The Radford Education Association plans to deliver its resolution Thursday at the State Capitol during "Rally Day" of the Virginia Parent-Teacher Association and the Virginia Education Association to focus attention on education funding issues.
"I think what we're interested in presenting to our representatives is our support for increased funding and to say that we support alternative revenue sources," Mullis said. "In other words, we're going for a tax increase."
She said eight REA members plan to attend Rally Day.
At its Dec. 5 meeting, the School Board unanimously approved a resolution proposed by both Rally Day sponsors. That resolution asked Gov. Douglas Wilder "to give his full support to the state Board of Education's budget request and further improvements to education in the commonwealth."
School Board member Chip Craig, an outspoken critic of state educational funding policies, said at Thursday's meeting that he agreed in principle with the Radford Education Association resolution, but that he could not support it.
"I could not vote for anything that endorses the commission's half effort," he said, referring to recent recommendations by the Governor's Commission on Educational Opportunity.
Craig suggested and the board unanimously approved a more strongly worded resolution. It calls for more state money for education, equalized statewide school funding and equitable distribution of sales tax revenues to localities.
It also calls for the elimination of caps on the composite index, the state formula used to determine how much a school division gets from Richmond.
In other business, the board reviewed standardized test score improvement plans from the city's four schools. That discussion prompted a question from board member Betty Plott about the possibility of a full-day kindergarten program. Radford now has only half-day sessions.
"We've had good success with the half-day program," Superintendent Michael Wright said. He said he thought first-grade performance on the tests was "adequate."
However, some children that educators considered not ready for first grade are placed in a transitional first-grade class. McHarg Elementary School Principal Betty Henry said there were 15 children in the transitional class.
"I would say the transitional program is an accommodation to students who would otherwise be promoted," Wright said.
He said only two or three are held back in kindergarten.
"But, in essence, they really are a year behind, no matter what you call it," said Plott, a former school administrator in Pulaski county, which has a full-day Kindergarten program.
"If it's not broke, don't fix it," board Vice Chairman Guy Gentry said of the half-day program.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB