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

DATE: FRIDAY, April 30, 1993                   TAG: 9304300322
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL BOARD LACKS PARENT VIEWPOINT, CANDIDATE SAYS

Now, only one does. And that won't change this year unless City Council appoints Patricia Witten to the board to replace one of the incumbents, Finn Pincus or Charles Day.

Witten believes the board lacks balance because the views of parents are not adequately represented. She is the only one of the five applicants for the two board seats who has children in city schools.

Witten, who has been a leader in the Parent Teacher Association for 15 years, told council that the parents - consumers for the school system - need stronger representation. One of her three children is in city schools; the other two have graduated.

"Don't go with the status quo," said Witten as she and the four other applicants were interviewed publicly Thursday night by council.

Each of the other applicants pointed to their achievements, background and experience, saying they had unique reasons for filling the seats.

Pincus, chairman of the board for two years, said continuity is needed on the board as Wayne Harris, the new superintendent, takes over this summer. He headed the search for the new superintendent and considers it the highlight of his tenure as chairman.

The schools are finding it more difficult to meet the needs of all children as federal and state money for education decreases, Pincus said.

Day, a former principal, teacher and coach in city schools, said the adjustment to a new superintendent will be one of the challenges facing the city in the next year.

Even though Harris comes with the strong support of the board and city leaders, Day said, there is apprehension any time the chief executive officer of a public agency changes.

Day said his background and educational experience would help provide continuity as the new superintendent begins work.

Paul Corn, a retired educator who has been a college teacher, elementary principal, research director and consultant to Virginia Tech, also pointed to his background and experience.

Corn, who worked for Franklin County schools before moving to the city, said he has a 34-year career in education. He now wants to put that experience and knowledge to work as a School Board member.

Corn said he has a love-hate relationship with education, saying he doesn't want to leave it.

City schools have undergone many changes in recent years and there is unrest among some teachers over salaries and other issues, he said.

"There is a need for a time of healing," he said, adding that he would like to work with the new superintendent to resolve the conflicts.

Joel Kelly, an advocate for the economically disadvantaged, said his experience would help him understand the problems caused by a growing number of disadvantaged children in the schools.

"My appointment would bring common sense to the board," Kelly said. "I can help the disadvantaged because I can relate to them."

Kelly, like all of the other applicants, said council made the right decision several years ago to keep neighborhood schools open and renovate them.