Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 16, 1994 TAG: 9412160066
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He has gained another ally in his attempt to derail Gov. George Allen's proposal to allow teachers, parents and others to set up independent schools that would be financed with public funds.
The Roanoke School Board has reversed its position and now opposes charter schools, saying they would benefit only select students and siphon off funds for regular schools.
Opposition to Allen's proposal appears to be growing. The Virginia School Boards Association has voted to oppose charter schools, saying they would divert attention and resources away from improving schools for all children. All 136 school systems in the state belong to the association.
Several school superintendents in Western Virginia said Thursday that they also fear the proposed new schools might receive funds and attention at the expense of regular schools.
Before meeting with Cranwell and several other state legislators this week, Roanoke School Board members said they supported charter schools if local school boards could retain control over them.
But Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, told them charter schools would take funds away from regular schools. He also warned that Allen's proposal would create two classes of schools and lead to class conflicts.
Chairman Nelson Harris said the School Board did not have complete information when it voted on charter schools earlier as part of the city's legislative wish list. "As we have gotten additional information, we believe this could damage existing schools and create other problems," Harris said.
But state Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, contends that many teachers, parents and other organizers know how to run schools better than politicians. And they like the charter school concept, Bell said.
Bell, who will introduce charter school legislation next month, believes the concept will gain support as people understand it better.
Charter schools, which have been created in 10 states, are run by teachers, parents or other organizations - not by school boards. They are funded by the state, even though they are operated independently.
The proposal allows the state to step in and grant a charter if a local school board rejects an application twice.
The Salem School Board opposes charter schools. Roanoke County has not taken a position, but Superintendent Deanna Gordon said there are many legal and operational issues that would have to be settled before any charter schools could open in Virginia.
Botetourt County Superintendent Clarence McClure said he doubts that charter schools will work, but he is keeping an open mind.
"If it creates another layer of management, I would oppose that," McClure said. "We are seeking more information, but we are opposed to vouchers and tuition tax credits."
Like McClure, Bedford County Superintendent John Kent worries that charter schools would increase bureaucracy and regulatory paperwork.
If any group wanted to open a charter school in Bedford County, he said, it would have to find a building, because there are no vacant schools.
Creating a charter school would be an extensive undertaking and require a substantial amount of money, Kent said.
In most states, charter school organizers are responsible for start-up costs.
Bell believes that Virginia ought to help with the initial costs. The Governor's Champion Schools Commission said a charter school should not be required to pay rent on space owned by the school division.
In Montgomery County, Superintendent Herman Bartlett said the School Board has not taken a position on charter schools, but he said there is anxiety that siphoning off funds for them would hurt regular schools.
by CNB