Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 2, 1994 TAG: 9408020093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There is information on the enrollment, instructional programs, outstanding achievements by students, teacher awards and other data on the city's schools.
The disk contains computer-generated graphics to make the material easier to understand. It provides a quick overview of the city school system and includes information designed to answer potential questions by students, parents and others.
This is the first time the city has used computers to help market its schools, said Lissy Runyon, supervisor of community relations and public information for the school system.
``We thought that we should really start using some of the technology that we have for our students,'' Runyon said.
The disks will be sent to more than 100 banks, economic-development agencies, real-estate sales companies and others that help market the schools.
The idea is to sell those groups on the schools and hope that they, in turn, will promote the schools to industrial prospects and potential home buyers.
``We want them to come and take a look at us,'' said Wayne Harris, school superintendent.
Vice Mayor John Edwards said the school system needs to market itself better and correct mistaken perceptions about city schools.
``We need to get out the word that we have a good school system and focus attention on the positive things,'' he said at a recent meeting of City Council and the School Board.
Runyon said the disks provide a capsule of data that can be included in a company's computer library. The information also may be converted to video, she said.
She said the only cost to the school system is the production of the disks. She did not have an immediate estimate but said it is inexpensive.
Runyon said anyone who wants a disk should contact the school system. It is available in Lotus Smartsuite, Free Lance Graphic or comparable software.
In the past, the school system has sent written material to banks, real-estate companies and others. Runyon said the school system will continue to send the written material in addition to the computer disks.
The computer-generated graphics show that Roanoke has 48 instructional programs ranging from preschool to the Roanoke Valley's Governor's School for Science and Technology. The programs range from special-education classes to those for gifted students.
``We wanted to show that we have a wide diversity of programs and courses,'' Runyon said.
Companies generally want to know the quality of schools when they choose the site for a new plant, she said.
by CNB