Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 20, 1994 TAG: 9407200114
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Salem's allotment for the next school year will be $188,000, a decrease of nearly $54,000 from last year.
But there might be worse news.
If legislation winding its way through Congress is passed, Salem's allotment could be gradually reduced to $53,000 over the next several years, said Judy Self, supervisor of elementary education and coordinator of the federal program for disadvantaged children.
Self told the Salem School Board on Tuesday night that one of the main elements in the distribution formula will be the poverty rate of a locality - not the number of children who are receiving free lunches.
Self said this will penalize Salem because its poverty rate is only 3 percent, compared with a national rate of 18 percent.
The legislation has provisions for a gradual reduction, Self said, and Salem's allocation would drop to $53,000 in a few years.
Superintendent Wayne Tripp said the reductions will be smaller for some school divisions because they have high poverty rates.
Because of the reduction for next year, Self said Salem must eliminate three teachers' aide positions and reduce other expenses.
The federal program, known as Chapter I among educators, is designed to provide additional assistance, especially in reading and mathematics.
If the federal funds decrease as expected, Tripp said, the school system will have to decide whether to use local funds to help make up the loss.
Board member Gerald Pace said school officials will need to develop a long-range plan for dealing with the loss of the funds.
Tripp said that Salem's efforts to provide better programs for at-risk students could be hampered by the reduction in federal money.
Tripp told the board that the school system's administrators have developed plans for a greater focus in the next year on children who have poor attendance, poor grades and other problems that increase the risk of them dropping out of school.
In other action, the board:
Voted to lease two modular classrooms for G.W. Carver Elementary School because of increasing enrollment. The temporary classrooms may also be used to help house students when renovation of the school begins early next spring.
Was told that the roof repairs at West Salem Elementary School are progressing well and should be finished before school starts in August.
Re-elected June Long as chairman and Walter Franke as vice chairman.
Agreed to participate in the New Century Regional Fiber Optic Consortium for colleges and public schools in the region.
by CNB