Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992 TAG: 9203050233
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ELIZABETH OBENSHAIN
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Daniel Schneck, School Board vice chairman, suggested the meetings to allow leaders of the two boards to discuss long-range plans for the school system. Last year, Supervisors Chairman Henry Jablonski had initiated several such sessions.
"We were concerned all of us were getting our information through the newspaper and none of us were talking eyeball to eyeball," Schneck said Wednesday.
Schneck suggested during Tuesday night's meeting that the School Board initiate the meetings because it has not heard from the supervisors since the new board took office in January and Ira Long replaced Jablonski as chairman.
Such meetings might have eased the frustration felt by both boards in dealing with the school budget, Schneck said.
"They wouldn't be over there thinking we are going to come in with a $39 million budget and we come in with $52 million."
In an interview Wednesday, Schneck said he thought the supervisors were no less compassionate than School Board members and would have liked to have funded the school board's $52.3 million budget request if the economy had allowed.
The budget would have required a $12.2 million increase in county funding.
"On our end, we are frustrated because we see the needs and we want the best for our children. They're frustrated because they want the same thing but can't figure out how to buy it," Schneck said.
"That frustration translates into tension and that is when people need to talk."
The School Board also agreed Tuesday to send the supervisors information on what it would cost to fund the schools at the same level as this year, with additional funds for opening the new Falling Branch School and providing a 4.5 percent raise for employees.
The board agreed, even though members thought this information already had been provided in response to an earlier request.
In another reference to the tense budget negotiations, Superintendent Harold Dodge gave board members a copy of a letter he sent to administrative staff and non-professional employees responding to a supervisor's statement at Saturday's budget work session.
Supervisor Larry Linkous was quoted as saying teachers should receive a raise, but not school administrators.
The letter asked the employees to be patient and continue to give 100 percent to the system. "I do not want any rift with our teachers' corps," Dodge wrote, urging the staff to "be positive in the face of adversity."
by CNB