Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 11, 1995 TAG: 9501110071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Two years ago, the city had a dropout rate of 7 percent - meaning one of every 14 students in grades seven through 12 left school before graduating.
Roanoke's rate was one of the highest in Western Virginia and well above the state average of 3 percent.
With the help of state funds for a dropout prevention program, however, Roanoke reduced its rate to 5 percent - one of every 20 students - in the 1993-94 school year.
Superintendent Wayne Harris says the rate still is too high, and he has promised that it will be reduced.
Lowering the rate even more could be tough, however, if the General Assembly approves Gov. George Allen's budget cuts, which would cost Roanoke $256,000 in state funds to help prevent dropouts.
Allen proposed eliminating $10.5 million in grants statewide for such programs.
School divisions may use state ``at-risk'' funds - which go to schools with a large number of students from low-income families - to continue their programs at the local level, Allen said.
But the localities said the increase in at-risk funds falls far short of making up the dropout money they would lose.
Harris said Roanoke's at-risk funds are needed for other programs, such as hiring more teachers to ensure smaller classes. To keep the dropout program, funds would have to be taken from other categories, including pay raises, he said.
Roanoke's dropout rate is more then double that of some nearby schools. In Roanoke County and Botetourt County, it's 2 percent. In Bedford County, it's 1 percent.
Roanoke would be the biggest money loser, but several school divisions in Western Virginia also would come up short.
Montgomery County would lose $87,000 in dropout prevention funds; Pulaski County, $69,000; Franklin County, $80,000; Botetourt County, $63,000; and Salem, $25,000.
Bedford County and Roanoke County don't receive dropout funds because of their low dropout rates and other factors in the funding formula.
``Our rate is so low that we don't qualify for any money,'' said John Kent, Bedford County's superintendent.
Roanoke's program has seven counselors and three aides who work with potential dropouts as early as the sixth grade to keep them in school.
``If we lose the money, it will have a negative impact on what we can do,'' said Lou Talbutt, supervisor of guidance and testing for the city.
The program has made significant strides since it began five years ago, Talbutt said.
Roanoke targets 400 students each year for counseling and guidance. This includes 100 students each at Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools and 200 in the six middle schools.
The schools identify potential dropouts by checking attendance records, grades, discipline problems and other indications that students are not happy and not making progress.
Jo Ann Hayden, who works in Roanoke's program, said counselors visit the homes of students who have dropped out and try to persuade them to return to school.
The counselors also have contracts with some potential dropouts and require them to check in, morning and afternoons. Some have to get their teachers to sign forms saying they attended and participated in class.
The counselors will help the students with their personal problems as well academic performance, counselor Toby Bobbitt said. Sometimes, they provide transportation.
The counselors meet with the parents and also arrange tutoring for students who need it.
``We need more counselors - not less,'' Bobbitt said.
Three students who met with counselors and a reporter this week said they would have dropped out if not for the programs. Asked if they thought the program was helpful, the three responded, ``Yes'' in unison..
One student said she now wants to become a lawyer, and another hopes to become an architect. The third wants to become a social worker.
by CNB