Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 25, 1995 TAG: 9504250113
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN AND JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Chapter I program, now called Title I, has cut its funds to the more affluent schools, concentrating instead on schools with a higher percentage of low-income children. Administrators are saying the cuts are hurting those schools left with no money, but they concede that increased funds for the at-risk children will be helpful.
"We expect the money to be as much or more as this year," said Doris McElfresh, Montgomery County's director of programs for kindergarten through 12th grade. "Only now it will be concentrated at eight schools instead of the 13."
In terms of schools affected, Montgomery County is hardest hit, losing funding at five of its 13 elementary schools - Riner, Kipps, Prices Fork, Harding Avenue and Gilbert Linkous.
The remaining eight schools still will receive federal money to pay for reading specialists, but McElfresh said the county is determined not to lose reading teachers at the five schools. In order to save their jobs, she said six full-time Title I teachers will shift to positions as reading specialists in 12 of the elementary schools, splitting their time between two schools each. The county then will be left with one part-time position to fill.
"We're going to provide help at every school," McElfresh said. "It will not be the same as Title I or Reading Recovery [which also is part of Title I] at all, but it will be help."
In Roanoke County, two of 11 elementary schools will lose funds next year, and three teaching positions might be eliminated or shifted. Furthermore, the county will receive a 15 percent reduction in funds, from $582,855 this year to a tentative allocation of $485,516 next year. This is about the same cut other area school systems are experiencing.
Joseph Kyle, director of federal programs, said Roanoke County has been hurt by the shift in the emphasis in Title I from educationally disadvantaged to economically disadvantaged students. The county had 50 percent fewer economically disadvantaged students in the 1990 census than in 1980, accounting for the reduction in federal money.
Linda Petrie, Floyd County's instructional supervisor, agrees.
"There's basically a leap of faith here saying that if you are on a free or reduced lunch, therefore you must be in need of special services, and that's not always true," Petrie said. "The [federal government] keeps telling us there's going to be less directives, but in essence that's not going to be the case," because the government is telling localities where to spend money.
In the past, schools would be eligible for Title I funds if they were at or above the county average for students on free or reduced lunches, or if they fell 5 percent below that average. The new regulations eliminate the latter alternative, leaving many school systems without funds.
"We're just trying to get out of shock at this point," said Petrie, who has not determined how to handle the elimination of Title I funds to Indian Valley Elementary School.
Dolores Johns, director of the Title I program in Roanoke, said all of the city's 18 eligible schools will remain on the list and receive funds next year - close to $2.5 million.
She hopes that Roanoke will escape any cut, but Richard Kelley, assistant superintendent for operations in Roanoke, says that the city still could face a 10 percent to 15 percent cut. The final figure from federal and state officials has not been determined, he said.
Other school systems are seeing similar cuts:
Botetourt County faces a possible 15 percent reduction in Title I money, and the number of schools receiving funds will decrease from five to four. No teachers will be laid off.
Franklin County hopes to escape a cut and all seven of its eligible schools will remain on the list, according to Elizabeth Edmondson, coordinator of the Title I program.
Giles County will lose 15 percent of its funding, resulting in a loss of three teacher assistants. "There just isn't a way locally for us to fund three more teachers," said Jim Wheeler, assistant superintendent. "We depended on the federal funding."
Bedford County hopes to get a small increase, up to $23,000, in Title I funds next year. The county received $489,000 this year, and 10 schools were eligible.
Salem will lose 18 percent of its funding and has not determined which elementary schools will be affected. The city received $188,000 this year and expects $157,000 next year.
by CNB