Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 19, 1993 TAG: 9312190051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LEESBURG LENGTH: Medium
Gov.-elect George Allen probably would be receptive to the idea, a spokesman said. Allen proposed dropping the state mandate when he was a member of the House of Delegates in 1991.
"We have a new administration. We have an opportunity," said Mary Beth LaRock, a board member who opposes state-required sex education classes.
But sex education supporters on the board said it is needed now more than ever.
"AIDS is killing kids, and the only way around it is education," said board member D. Kim Price-Munoz, who voted against the proposal Thursday night. "I don't like it any more than anyone else does, but we have to talk about it."
On a 6-4 vote, the Loudoun board said local school boards should decide whether to offer sex education and what topics they should cover. The board also wants to eliminate the state requirement that elementary schools have guidance counselors.
LaRock, who was appointed to the School Board in June, said she was part of a delegation of "pro-family" groups that met with Allen last year before he declared his candidacy for governor. "He was opposed to state mandating," LaRock said. "He's very much a . . . local control person."
Family life education classes start in kindergarten and include health issues, sex education and other topics.
The guidance program, which requires at least one counselor for every 500 elementary school students, includes one-on-one counseling and small-group sessions for troubled youngsters, as well as exercises for entire classes. Parents have the option of removing their children from either program.
"As far as I'm concerned, this is the first step to doing away with them," said board member Edward J. Kiley, who voted against the proposal.
LaRock and other members who opposed the state mandates said they oppose some elements of both programs. But they also said their vote reflected an effort to wrest control of education from the state.
"It's not going to end here - we're going to try and end state mandates in a lot of areas," said board member James K. Martin, who voted for the proposal.
by CNB