Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 13, 1995 TAG: 9501130120
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Bell spent most of Thursday on the phone with Superintendent Deanna Gordon and School Board members, urging them to wait until the charter bill is drafted in the legislature before taking a stand.
But a majority of the board members said Thursday night they saw no reason to delay.
Chairman Frank Thomas said it would be best for the county to take a stand now.
Gordon recommended that the county oppose charter schools, saying she fears they would hurt regular public schools.
The school boards in Roanoke and Salem already had voted to oppose charter schools, which would be independent schools financed with public funds but are free of most state and local educational regulations.
Bell, R-Roanoke County, supports charter schools and is one of the point men for Gov. George Allen's school reform program. He is sponsoring the legislation.
Bell wanted the county School Board to wait until the bill is available for review.
Thomas, the board chairman, said that Bell promised that the charter bill, unlike those of other states, would give the School Board exclusive control of charter schools.
If the bill ensures local control over charter schools without interference by the state, he said, that might alter his position. The board could modify its stand, he said.
But Thomas said he made no promises to Bell.
"This will send them a message," said board member Maurice Mitchell. "But it does not lock us in. We can always change our position later if it is something we don't object to."
Michael Stovall, one the board's new members, sided with Thomas and Mitchell. "This shows that we are concerned about what is being proposed," Stovall said.
Vice Chairman Jerry Canada and Thomas Leggette, another new member, abstained. Both voiced apprehension about charter schools but chose not to vote.
Leggette said he was hesitant to take a stand until he sees the bill and whether it does give local boards control over charter schools.
Lisa Merrill, who lost to Leggette in last fall's election, urged the board to delay action, saying it should wait until it knows more.
"Let's not jump the gun and oppose something that we don't know that much about," Merrill said.
Canada said he doesn't oppose charter schools, but is afraid they will siphon off funds for regular schools. Gordon said she, too, fears this might happen.
"My own opposition to this legislation is based primarily on my belief that such schools would divert both monies and time from our efforts to educate the 13,650 students currently attending our schools," Gordon said.
"Each group of 100 students who might enroll in a separate school would divert more than a half million dollars from our operating budget."
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995
by CNB