Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 23, 1995 TAG: 9501230027
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For Superintendent Wayne Harris, it is a telling sign that Roanoke's schools could do a better job of educating.
The city's scores on standardized tests show a flat profile, with little improvement for students in grades four, eight and 11.
To help improve test scores and better prepare students for jobs after they leave school, the schools must improve learning, Harris said.
"Our emphasis will be on programs for the at-risk and average learner," Harris said in recent remarks on the proposed $77.6 million school budget.
At-risk students are those who have a high risk of doing poorly or dropping out because of academic or economic reasons.
As much as the at-risk children need more attention and money, Harris said, he has not slighted other school programs.
Most of the public attention has focused on the state disparity money for at-risk students. The city has received more than $2 million to provide smaller classes for at-risk pupils.
While Harris wants to do more for at-risk and average students, he said that programs for gifted have been preserved and expanded.
In a year when funds are tight, the superintendent had to juggle budget requests for a broad range of programs.
The budget retains all of the city's programs for gifted students such as the City School for high schools and the Plato program in the elementary schools.
It also includes funds for the city to retain the same level of participation in the Roanoke Valley Governor's School for Science and Technology.
But there is an emphasis on at-risk and average students that is fueled in part by additional state funds to provide smaller classes in elementary schools.
Harris said there are also other areas of emphasis such as teachers' salaries, acquisition of technology and expanding the Magnet School programs.
Frank Tota, Harris' predecessor, was criticized on occasion for favoring programs for gifted students at the expense of others.
"We have not targeted any one area," Harris said. "We have not gone out of the way to favor any programs."
As in the past, the budget includes funds for the arts and other cultural activities, Harris said.
Several School Board members say they like Harris' budget and they believe he has balanced competing needs.
Vice Chairwoman Marilyn Curtis said she likes Harris' style of analyzing and reviewing programs.
"He didn't come in here and start making changes before he knew what was going on," Curtis said.
Finn Pincus, a board member, said he favors revamping the alternative education program and the intense effort to reduce the dropout rate.
"This is a nationwide effort because dropouts become a burden on society," Pincus said. "l think this is the way to go."
Another member, John Saunders, said the board has a responsibility to try to educate at-risk students.
"We're giving it the best shot that we can," Saunders said.
In addition to smaller classes for at-risk children, the school system soon will have new quarters for the alternative education program.
Marsha Ellison, a board member, said it will be better for the city in the long run to try to prevent children from dropping out.
"By addressing the needs of the at-risk children, you can help make it better for all students because they will be together in middle schools and high schools," Ellison said.
The school system has a 10-member staff to try to prevent dropouts, but that could be jeopardized because the state might withdraw $256,000 in funding for it. The state also may cut $200,000 in other programs.
Harris said the school system needs to hire 10 more teacher's aides in each of the next three years to assist large classes, but it doesn't have the money.
Harris said the fine-arts programs will be expanded. The schools have given funds in the past two years to the Roanoke Symphony and the Art Museum of Western Virginia. The in-school program will be expanded next year.
by CNB