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

DATE: SUNDAY, May 2, 1993                   TAG: 9305030272
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LET TAXPAYERS DECIDE ON `GIFTS'

AFTER READING Brooke Stephens' April 13 commentary concerning smaller classes and higher pay for kindergarten teachers, it brings to mind that Roanoke city's School Board and City Council could have come up with additional money instead of giving our money to Superintendent Frank Tota for his "consultants" fee, as they called it. I call it a taxpayers' gift of $245,000 for work that, more than likely, will never be completed.

I can't understand why we need Tota to advise our new school superintendent, Wayne Harris, on how to do his job. If Harris had not been qualified, he should not have been hired. From what I have read about him, I believe that he is just as capable of doing the job as Tota. In a March 27 article by Laura Williamson, Harris told board members he preferred that they not call on Tota's service, and I agree with him. After all, Tota will be in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., and would have very little interest in Roanoke, except to get his "gift" check.

If School Board member Jay Turner was so interested in the education of our children, he could have hired one more teacher, given the $35,000 toward raising our current teachers' pay, used the money for purchasing better equipment or to benefit the less fortunate children who attend our schools. Turner should pay Tota out of his own company payroll. That money is more than the average worker receives for two years of work, much less for 20 days.

I do not have any children, but feel that the taxpayers are being ripped off by the current School Board members and City Council. In the future, it should be up to the taxpayers to make this kind of decision, not just a few members of City Council. These people were put in their jobs to carry out our wishes and not for their personal reasons or gains. It is time that the citizens wake up and elect some new blood. GEORGE STULTZ ROANOKE

by CNB