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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 16, 1993                   TAG: 9306160254
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NEXT SCHOOLS CHIEF TAKES SUGGESTIONS, BUT FEW SHOW UP

Four chances, actually. But few people came to the town meetings Harris arranged in each of the city's four quadrants during the past two weeks, prompting those who did to reach this conclusion:

One priority the city school system should set is to look for ways to foster more community involvement, particularly from parents.

Broadcast PTA meeting times over the radio, some suggested. Look for ways to improve direct communication between schools and parents, said others. Some wanted more - they asked for specific guidelines for parental involvement so that parents would know what responsibilities they had regarding their school-age children.

Seminars for parents, a parent resource center, professionals to work with families to solve social problems affecting their children's ability to learn - the handful of community members who did show up at the meetings came armed with dozens of ideas.

In each case, they narrowed their priorities to 10. Facilitators will assemble that information and turn in summaries to Harris and the School Board at a planning session July 7. The board will use those lists - and similar compilations from school administrators, students, Parent-Teacher Association members, teachers and civic organizations - to set its priorities for the next three years.

Not everyone knocked the low turnout.

Perhaps, suggested William Fleming High School Principal Alice Szathmary, most people stayed home because they were satisfied with the job being done by Roanoke schools.

And Norm Michaels, assistant superintendent for instruction, offered this perspective when questioned about the meeting in Northeast Roanoke, where only 11 people showed up:

"I think it met its purpose, because we had 11 people who did not have another means to communicate with the school system."

Actually, 10. Sitting among the 11 was Monterey Elementary School Principal George Bell, who offered several ideas for the list, including a request for more school nurses.

At Stonewall Jackson, five people showed up, not including Principal Charles Kennedy. Patrick Henry High School boasted the largest turnout, with 14 people arriving to voice their concerns. Attendance at William Fleming was higher than that - if you count 15 students from a Virginia Tech education class who came to observe. Another four were school administrators.

Among the priorities voiced most often by those who came to the meetings were:

Reduce class sizes, particularly in the elementary schools.

Extend PLATO, a course for gifted elementary school students, to all students.

Improve early intervention and individualized instruction to reduce the number of students dropping out.

Hire more guidance counselors.

Pay teachers more and offer them more training.

Put more money into the schools, period.

Place more emphasis on vocational programs, internships and apprenticeships and start them earlier.

Establish a seven-period day.

Hire more resource teachers.

Continue and expand site-based management.

Use American building materials to renovate schools.

Other suggestions included school uniforms or standardized dress codes, more early childhood programs, more attention to reducing substance abuse, and alternative methods for dealing with children who continually disrupt class.

"The new superintendent would like to have an idea of what you are thinking about," Michaels told the group assembled at Monterey.

An idea? He'll be getting about 100.