Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 30, 1995 TAG: 9506300059
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, on Thursday became the second prominent Democrat in less than a week to criticize Gov. George Allen for refusing to participate in the federal Goals 2000 program, which is designed to raise academic standards and improve schools.
Allen is doing a "disservice to the families and children of Virginia" by refusing to accept the money, said Woodrum, who represents parts of Roanoke and Roanoke County.
"I call on the governor to give his approval to the commonwealth to participate," Woodrum said at a news conference that was attended by several school officials from the city and county.
But Newell Falkinburg, his Republican opponent, said he supports the governor's decision.
"Like Governor Allen, I am deeply concerned about the prospect of federal bureaucratic interference with state and local education policy," he said. Goals 2000 should be a block grant, eliminating federal involvement in the state's schools, Falkinburg said.
Allen fears that the federal government will intrude into schools if the state accepts the money. The program would provide $1.8 million this year and another $6 million to $7 million next year.
Beverly Sgro, Virginia's secretary of education, appeared with Falkinburg at his news conference Thursday, at which he announced a six-point education plan.
Sgro defended Allen's decision on Goals 2000, saying the Democrats in the state legislature express concern over the loss of $1.8 million for schools, but they refused to return $300 million a year in state lottery profits to localities for education and other services. Allen proposed the return of the lottery money, but the Democratic-controlled legislature rejected the plan, claiming it would leave the state's education budget $300 million short.
Sgro said the lottery funds are 150 times larger than the Goals 2000 money.
Falkinburg said he also supports returning lottery profits to localities for schools. If Woodrum had supported Allen's proposal, he said, $9 million would have been available to the Roanoke Valley.
Falkinburg's education plan also includes support for Allen's proposed charter schools - experimental public schools operated by any group that obtained a "charter" from the local school board.
Last week, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer assailed Allen for turning down the funds, saying he was shortchanging the state's schoolchildren.
Woodrum said that Allen's decision will shortchange taxpayers, too.
"Virginia taxpayers will see their money spent in other states - not in their own," Woodrum said.
Woodrum and others contend that Allen's fears are exaggerated and Goals 2000 will not lead to federal intrusion in the state's schools.
Virginia and New Hampshire are the only states that have declined to participate in Goals 2000, an initiative that grew out of an education summit sponsored by former President Bush and the nation's governors in Charlottesville in 1989.
Several school officials in the Roanoke Valley and Montgomery County said they are disappointed by Allen's decision.
"His reasoning doesn't wash with me," said Nelson Harris, chairman of the Roanoke School Board and a former Democratic candidate for City Council. "We already receive millions of dollars in federal money and we don't have federal control."
Roanoke Superintendent Wayne Harris said he believes the Goals 2000 funds could be beneficial to school systems. "I'd like for us to have the opportunity to see some of the money," he said.
Montgomery County Superintendent Herman Bartlett said he and other superintendents are afraid Allen is using the issue as a political wedge to force his belief in states' rights over federal mandates into the national spotlight.
"I hope he's not putting his political goals ahead of education," Bartlett said. "If that's the case, that's a serious flaw in his judgment."
Botetourt County Superintendent Clarence McClure said the state ought to accept the money and he does not believe it will lead to federal intervention into the schools.
"The federal government has been providing funds for education for years. This is nothing new," McClure said. "They ought to stay out of education, but if they want to give us incentives, we ought to take the money."
by CNB