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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 29, 1995                   TAG: 9507310035
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                  LENGTH: Medium

COUNSELOR WOULD SCOUT SCHOLARSHIPS, JOBS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

Speaking to his former colleagues, McPhail - who heads the counselor education program at Radford University - outlined his vision of a counselor whose only job would be to find college money or work programs for graduates.

McPhail, whom the board invited to speak, acknowledged that the money to hire such a counselor would have to be raised locally and "I don't give a damn how you get it," he added.

"It's a pleasure to be on this side of the table," joked McPhail, who headed the board for several years.

McPhail said if the board seriously explores creating the counseling position, the duties should be expanded to include looking into training and apprenticeship programs for noncollege bound graduates. "You can't just deal with part of the student population," he said, suggesting that the noncollege-bound population often is "left by the wayside."

McPhail further recommended setting up a system to assess students' abilities and aptitudes "to show them some areas they might look into."

He advised giving a new counselor the technology to do the job, including computers and Internet access to search scholarship databases.

Board member Chip Craig, who chaired the session, agreed. "There virtually isn't a university around that doesn't have a home page [on the Internet]," he said.

Board member Spencer Hall, attending his first meeting, questioned the need for a counselor and suggested much of the information on obtaining scholarships and grants already is available via computerized services.

The board asked McPhail to address the issue of money and jobs for graduates after some board members expressed concern about the availability of scholarships and grants for college-bound Radford High School graduates.

"To be honest, I've never been satisfied with the amount we do actually bring in," Craig said.

This year's graduating class of 84 students garnered more than $165,000 in "pure scholarships" and grants for higher education, said guidance counselor Carolyn Canada. Two previous class totals have topped $275,000, she said.

Superintendent Michael Wright said Friday that school administrators are "trying to do as good a job as we can" in obtaining help for graduates.

In other action, following an executive session, the board agreed to readmit on a probationary basis a Radford High School student who had been expelled last year. The youth's parents had petitioned for their child's readmission.