
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 4, 1995                   TAG: 9502060032
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL-TO-WORK GRANT AMOUNTS TO $7,000 FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Montgomery County is one of nine school systems statewide to benefit from Gov. George Allen's School-to-Work grants. The office of the secretary of education and the Virginia Business-Education Partnership program awarded the county the $7,000 grant, which will be used to enhance vocational education in the middle and high schools.

"You're giving me the news for the first time," Richard Ballengee, instructional supervisor for Montgomery County Schools, said from his home Friday. "Obviously, we're real pleased."

Ballengee, who oversees vocational education and school-business partnerships in the county, said the money will be used for two projects.

A youth apprenticeship program in home building will teach high school students how to build houses. Ballengee said he is seeking a home builders group that would be willing to work on such a program.

The second project would help at-risk middle school pupils learn more about area industries and job opportunities. The pupils would visit businesses and meet industry workers on the job.

Both projects, said Ballengee, "would stimulate interest in area businesses."

More than $100,000 will be divided among the nine grant recipients, ranging from $5,500 to $15,000. Sixty-five school systems applied for the grants; Montgomery County was the only system in Southwest Virginia to receive one.

Throughout the year, school officials have worked to get the business community involved in the education of county students. In October, the schools celebrated the kick-off of the Montgomery County Workforce Endorsement Agreement, a program which, with help from businesses, will provide better training for high school students so they will be prime candidates for local jobs when they graduate.

So far, more than 100 area businesses have signed onto the agreement.

Ballengee said the remainder of the grant money may be used to finance printing and other costs associated with the work force endorsement agreement.

"We're just happy we got it," he said. "We thought our chances were pretty good because we weren't asking for that much money. We'll take what we can get."

by CNB