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

DATE: FRIDAY, April 14, 1995                   TAG: 9504150027
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TEACHERS GIVE THOMAS LOW GRADE

Del. Victor Thomas has long been considered a friend of education and teachers, but the state teachers' organization isn't happy with his performance in the past two years.

The Virginia Education Association has given the veteran Roanoke Democrat an average rating of 42 percent on key teacher issues in the General Assembly for the past two years. He had a 50 percent rating in 1994 and 34 percent this year.

The low rating surprised Thomas, and one VEA official said it does not reflect Thomas' support for teachers and education throughout his legislative career.

Thomas has been endorsed by teachers several times, said Gary Waldo, executive director of the Roanoke Education Association.

Thomas' rating stems in part from his opposition to a bill that would remove the discretionary powers of school boards after an arbitration decision on a teacher grievance. Richard Pulley, director of the VEA's Government Relations Division, said the arbitration issue was a key one for teachers this year.

Currently, the final step of the grievance procedure allows a school board to overturn the grievance panel's decision. The General Assembly passed a bill this year that would make the arbitration panel's decision binding. The bill must be passed again next year and be approved by state voters in a referendum before it will take effect.

"I think most teachers know that I am a friend of education, but I just think the school board should have the final say in grievances," Thomas said.

Thomas, who may be challenged this year for the first time in 13 years, said he has fought for more money for schools. He led the fight to prevent Roanoke and other school systems from losing some funds because of enrollment losses.

Jeff Artis, an in-school suspension teacher at Patrick Henry High School and the publisher of the Black Conservative Newsletter, has said he may run against Thomas.

In the Senate, Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, received an average rating of 62 percent for the past four years, partly because he, too, opposed the teachers on the arbitration issue.

Bell said the VEA and the Virginia School Boards Association were on opposite sides of the arbitration bill.

"Is this a pro-education issue when the teachers are on one side and the school boards on the other?'' he said. "I felt the school boards should retain the final decision."

State senators were rated for four years because that is the length of their terms. Delegates serve two-year terms.

by CNB