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

DATE: SATURDAY, February 11, 1995                   TAG: 9502140026
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOLS MAY GET $47 MILLION GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY

All public schools in Virginia would be linked by computer and have their own media centers under a $47 million technology grant program that has been approved by the state Senate.

The plan would enable all of the state's 133 school divisions to have access to many computer systems that are part of the information superhighway.

The funds would be distributed based on enrollment and other factors. In Western Virginia, Roanoke would receive the most, $745,293. Roanoke County would get $667,022, Bedford County $505,996, Montgomery County $496,761, Franklin County $383,396, Botetourt County $240,697, Salem $157,031 and Radford $86,899.

If the House of Delegates approves a similar plan, it could be a boon to Roanoke County's computer technology, said Frank Thomas, county School Board chairman.

``It hasn't gotten a lot of attention, but it would be a big help,'' Thomas said this week.

A spokesman for the Senate Finance Committee said a lobbying campaign is under way to persuade the House to agree, but it is unclear whether there is enough time for a successful campaign.

While Roanoke County might receive more money for school technology than anticipated, it apparently will receive no windfall in state operating funds.

County schools expect increases of $750,000 in state funds and $2.1 million in local funds next year.

Thomas has promised that teacher salaries will be the board's top priority as it puts together a budget. ``Our No. 1 concern will be salaries. We are going to present a budget of needs. It will not be a wish list,'' he said.

The average salary for the county's teachers is $35,205 - about $1,000 above the state average and $1,850 below the national average.

County teachers have complained that they have been losing buying power because the inflation rate has been higher than their pay raises. The teachers have urged the School Board to place salaries ahead of building needs.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995

by CNB