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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 25, 1995                   TAG: 9505250058
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TOTA REPORT, NOW TYPED, IS REVIEWED

Frank Tota has typed his report on possible funding sources for Roanoke's magnet schools, but he must wait a little longer to see if he will receive his $35,000 consultant's fee.

School Board Chairman Nelson Harris has asked board members to review the report before he decides whether the former superintendent will get his money.

"I have asked each member for their thoughts. I will wait and see what emerges," he said.

Harris rejected an earlier handwritten version of the report and told Tota it would have to be typed.

The report was required under Tota's controversial seven-year, early retirement contract, which calls for him to perform professional services of an advisory or consultative nature for 20 days a year for $35,000.

The fee is based on 35 percent of Tota's salary when he retired in 1993. Tota now is school superintendent in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

The schools also have an early retirement program for teachers and administrators, but it is not as lucrative as Tota's contract.

Teachers and administrators who take early retirement can receive 20 percent of their salary for five years - in addition to their retirement pay - in exchange for working 20 days a year.

The early retirees are asked to work on a variety of tasks, such as helping develop curriculum guides and training younger teachers.

"If they don't work 20 days, they don't receive the money," said Richard Kelley, assistant superintendent for operations. "It is basically a guaranteed, five-year, part-time employment contract," Kelley said.

The early retirement program began in 1984 and consisted of the five-year, 20 percent salary incentive.

During the year when Tota's contract was approved, the salary percentage for those retiring early was raised to 35 percent. But it was dropped back to 20 percent after Tota left.

The School Board asked Tota to research the availability of funds to continue Roanoke's magnet school programs after the federal grants supporting them expire.

by CNB