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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 1, 1995                   TAG: 9503010085
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PARENTS FACE NEED `TO CARE' OR PAY FINE

Under a bill passed by the General Assembly this year that's awaiting Gov. George Allen's signature, parents could be fined up to $500 for failing to help schools discipline their children.

``You need to get parents to care, and this is going to force that,'' said. Del. Marian Van Landingham, D-Alexandria, sponsor of the legislation.

Parents would be required to sign a contract accepting responsibility for working with schools to ensure their children are well-disciplined. Parents who refuse to sign could be taken to court by the school board and be fined up to $50.

``This will give school officials some leverage with parents,'' said Del. Clifton ``Chip'' Woodrum, D-Roanoke.

``This is one the best measures to deal with discipline problems,'' said Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem. ``Parents have to participate. Most do, but a few don't.''

School officials in Western Virginia believe it would give them a stronger hand in discipline issues.

``Without parental involvement, you can't solve the discipline problems,'' said Bedford County Superintendent John Kent. ``This will enable you to get the parents involved.''

``In some cases, parents needed to be prodded to get more involved,'' said Botetourt County Superintendent Clarence McClure. ``I think it will help, although I am not familiar with all the details.''

``It would seem to be a good thing in cases where parents won't cooperate,'' said James Gallion, assistant school superintendent for Roanoke County.

The discipline provision is part of broader legislation that requires smaller classes in grade schools that have many poor children, offers preschool education for 4-year-olds from low-income families, and expands technology in schools.

For the first time, the legislature also has promised to dedicate state lottery funds to education.

Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, in Roanoke to speak to Addison Middle School students, pointed to the lottery-funds decision as evidence of the legislature's support for education.

Allen has not said whether he will sign the education legislation, but Griffith believes the governor supports most of the provisions.

Ken Stroupe, Allen's spokesman, said earlier that the governor agreed with the thrust of the legislation but wanted to withhold judgment until he reviews it.

The push for the disciplinary mandates began last year when Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, sought to include them in legislation that provided money to reduce the spending disparity between poor and rich school systems.

The disciplinary mandates were not enacted last year, but Cranwell and other legislators continued to push them.

A year ago, the Roanoke school system adopted a voluntary program for discipline oversight that was designed to get parents involved.

Parents of middle- and high-school students were asked to sign pledges supporting the school system's new discipline code.

Almost 2,200 parents signed the pledges and promised to work with school officials to help ensure that their children were well-behaved.

Unlike the new state legislation, the city's program is voluntary; parents cannot be fined for failure to participate.

If Allen signs the bill, state education officials said, they don't expect the discipline penalties will be used extensively.

``I think it will be more of a threat - that it will help get the attention of parents,'' one official said.

``Without parental involvement, you can't solve the discipline problems,'' said Kent, the Bedford County superintendent. ``This will enable you to get the parents involved.''

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995