Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 17, 1993 TAG: 9302170255
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
COUNCIL URGED TO PUT SCHOOLS AT TOP OF PRIORITY LIST
Teachers, parents and school officials made a plea Tuesday to Roanoke City Council to make education a budget priority."I think it's time for us collectively to stand up and say `Our children and teachers must be first,' " School Board member Wendy O'Neil said.
"I'm concerned that in Roanoke, we can find $5 million for Hotel Roanoke but can't find money for teachers and our children. The Hotel Roanoke renovation is wonderful, but we've got major concerns."
In addition to administrators who spoke at the board's public hearing on the 1993-94 school spending plan, teachers urged pay equal to those of surrounding school systems; parents stressed the importance of children's education; and about 100 bus drivers wondered how long they could continue working without retirement benefits.
"I understand the need for economic development but our children aren't a maybe; our children are the here and now," parent Pam Holmquist said. "I'm tired of waiting and being placed last. I urge you to let City Council know that education needs to be first."
Richard Kelley, executive for business affairs for Roanoke schools, said city officials have proposed giving the school system 36.04 percent of an anticipated increase in local tax revenue. Kelley said school officials had expected that figure to return to the 48 percent that the school system received during the 1980s until the current school year.
The percentage was lowered this school year to 36.5 percent "because we got a large increase in state revenue, the economic situation and budget needs that [the city] had," he said. "We were hoping that would only be for one year. We knew that in the second year of the biennium, revenues grow at a much slower rate."
The bottom line proposes $963,826 in local money for schools, down from the $1.1 million given schools this fiscal year.
The numbers juggling did not sit well with Superintendent Frank Tota.
"I'm suspicious. When things change, something unusual always happens," he said. "When are we going to be a No. 1 priority? I don't believe we have the support of some City Council members as a first priority. I've been here 12 years and we never seem to be a first priority.
"How long can this go on?" Tota asked. "We've shared the lack of money relatively well. But that kind of frustration is eating everybody up."
The proposed school budget includes a proposal to raise teacher salaries, possibly by 2 or 3 percent, Kelley said. How much of a raise rests largely with the General Assembly, he said.
The House Appropriations Committee has proposed setting aside $17.6 million to give teachers 2 percent pay increases beginning Dec. 1. The Senate Finance Committee recommended providing $22.8 million for 3.1 percent raises for teachers, also effective Dec. 1.
Roanoke teachers received 3 percent pay raises this school year. Teacher salaries were frozen for the 1991-92 year because of a reduction in state aid and the recession.
Dorothy Cooper, president of the Roanoke Education Association, said Roanoke teachers - who once ranked first in salary among the three valley school systems - now rank last.
"We urge you to take a stand toward closing that inequity," she told the board. "That will take a 7 [percent] or 8 percent increase. We don't mean to sound ungrateful. We just need to return to the competitive position we once had so our students continue to have the best opportunity possible.
"We need your help to get there."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***