Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412100061
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
So you would think that all the talk about the decentralization of power would cause state legislators to allow school boards to set their own opening dates.
Not so.
State law prohibits most school divisions from opening before Labor Day.
"There is talk of moving things to the local level. It looks like we could set our own calendar," Gordon told the county School Board on Thursday night.
At Gordon's recommendation, the School Board decided to make another effort during the General Assembly's upcoming session to get permission to open before Labor Day.
In recent years, the legislature has refused similar requests. The tourism industry, which supports the ban on the early opening, has contended the state would lose thousands of dollars in tourism revenue.
The state Board of Education made a change in policy that will make it easier for some schools to open before Labor Day, but it is unlikely to help Roanoke County.
Under the new policy, schools may open before Labor Day if they have been closed for bad weather an average of eight days in five of the past 10 years.
The old policy required schools to have been closed an average of 10 days in five of the last 10 years to open early.
The new policy is mainly designed to provide flexibility for schools in far Southwest Virginia, which often experience extended bad weather during winter.
On other legislative issues, the board will:
Oppose vouchers or tuition tax credits that authorize the use of public funds to pay tuition for students to attend private schools.
Urge the General Assembly to revise the state's school funding formula to provide more equity.
Ask the legislature to provide funds to help cover the cost of new school buildings. A recent report documented billions of dollars of unmet construction and major maintenance needs in the state.
The School Board also voted to ask Norfolk Southern Corp. to continue its steam engine excursion trips. Chairman Frank Thomas said that many schoolchildren have ridden the trains and benefited from the excursions.
Board members said they hope NS will continue a modified program with trains that will be available to schoolchildren.
Also, the board said farewell to Charlsie Pafford and Barbara "Bootie" Chewning, the two members with the longest service. Both have been on the board for 12 years and did not seek re-election in the first-ever school board election in the county last month.
Pafford has represented the Windsor Hills district, and Chewning has been the Vinton district member. Thomas praised their contributions to county schools and said they were especially helpful during difficult times for the board.
The new members, Tom Leggette in Windsor Hills and Michael Stovall in Vinton, will take office next month.
by CNB