Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 11, 1994 TAG: 9401130023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By Mara Lee staff writer
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The 222 Montgomery County residents who spent the better part of a year on the Focus 2006 report suggested a commission be established to follow up so that the more than 350 pages don't become empty words gathering dust on a shelf.
``This would appear to be another level of bureaucracy we're funding,'' said Bob Goncz, School Board vice chairman. ``We've got to put some teeth into it.
``My employees will not be motivated by a bonus two years from now. It has to be smart, realistic and tangible, something I can bite into.''
The school system is no stranger to long-term strategic planning. A six-year plan is required by the state. And community involvement has been tried before as well, said School Board member Annette Perkins. Perkins had a hand in the last plan, developed in the late '80s, when she taught at Blacksburg High School.
Yet the board never touched the plan again once it voted to accept it. ``We did take that five-year plan and put it on a shelf,'' Goncz said. ``And what's the point of even having it?''
The board hopes the new group, to be called the Focus 2006 Advisory Commission, will ease the burden on the school administration, by researching problems and giving the community a voice.
Mission and vision took up the bulk of the board's time at the meeting early Saturday, though nothing was decided on either count. The mission statement of the 2006 final report reads: ``to prepare all Montgomery County Public School students so that they develop the knowledge and skills to achieve success and become active citizens who contribute to their communities.''
Chairman Roy Vickers said codifying the mission statement is ``a big enough issue that we might need the input of every School Board member. We don't want to do it around the back door when School Board members aren't here.'' Board member David Moore was absent.
The 10-part vision statement also was postponed until it could be officially put on the agenda. Several members questioned how realistic the goals were.
The first part of the vision statement reads: ``All students will enter school ready to learn.'' Don Lacy questioned the resources and effort the school system would donate toward that goal, including coordinating with day cares and church preschools as well as public programs. ``Are we willing to expand Even Start to every school? Work with Head Start more closely?'' If the answer is no, Lacy said, the vision statement has no meaning.
Superintendent Herman Bartlett responded, ``Understand we never may achieve that, but that's what we want to attain.''
The board also discussed how to choose commission members to make sure each area of the county was well-represented. The board plans to have two work sessions to choose potential appointees and to appoint commission members Jan. 27.
by CNB