Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 23, 1993 TAG: 9304230088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Since that time, she has volunteered in 10 of the city's 29 schools, served on the School Board's Long-Range Planning Committee and worked her way up to president of the PTA's Central Council.
Now, with one of three children left in the public schools, she's ready to move up another notch - to the School Board.
If she does gain one of two seats being filled this spring, she'll join a group with which she previously has found herself at odds. As former Central Council president, Witten accused some board members in 1991 of being more interested in doing the bidding of City Council than doing what was right for Roanoke's children.
She doesn't expect the episode will make it difficult to work with the board, however.
"I can work with anyone if I feel what we're doing is in the best interest of the children," she said.
And while she makes no promises and says she takes no agenda with her into the application process, Witten does hold positions on several issues.
Classes, particularly in the elementary schools, need to be smaller, she said. That means more teachers.
Teachers also need to be paid more. And Roanokers should be more willing to foot the bill for education, which she feels has not received a high enough priority from community members.
One job the schools should not be tackling, she wrote in her application, is that of moral educator.
"We are currently moving in the wrong direction, with parents allowing the public schools to try to solve all social ills," she wrote. "The school should be telling the parents, `hey, this is YOUR JOB,' this is your child, this is your responsibility."
Keywords:
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