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

DATE: FRIDAY, February 25, 1994                   TAG: 9402250106
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                                LENGTH: Medium

22 COMPANIES SHOW INTEREST IN RUNNING PORTSMOUTH SCHOOLS

Representatives of 22 companies interested in managing five of the city's public schools toured the facilities this week but offered few details on how they would improve them.

Officials from a defense contractor and accounting and computer companies were among those who looked at the schools Wednesday. They were invited by Superintendent Richard Trumble, who is moving ahead with a plan to turn over the management of the five schools to private firms.

"We're always looking for new ways of doing things, because that's how we stay on top," said Vernon Humphrey, manager with CAE-Link Corp. of Hampton, which provides government training services.

Also on the tour were two well-known school management firms: Education Alternatives Inc. of Minneapolis, which runs 11 public schools in Baltimore; and the New York-based Edison Project, which plans to take over 30 public schools across the country by 1995.

"What we offer is an integrated plan that's based on solid research and what's best for children," said Deborah McGriff, a Portsmouth native now with the Edison Project.

The deadline to submit bids is March 18. A committee of citizens and school officials will review the bids and make a recommendation to the school board.

Some parents don't like the idea of taking the schools private. Eight parents demonstrated outside James Hurst Elementary as the visitors arrived.

"Privatization simply is not the panacea that it's being made out to be," said Richard Mondak, a demonstrator whose 8-year-old son attends James Hurst.

Trumble wants private firms to take over the five target schools by the 1994-95 school year to boost attendance and test scores, increase parental involvement and close the achievement gap between black and white students.

The companies would receive the same amount per pupil the school district spends - about $5,000. They would monitor instruction and be in charge of supplies, cleaning, food services, support and maintenance.

by CNB