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

DATE: SUNDAY, September 17, 1995                   TAG: 9509180018
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CHARTER SCHOOLS OPPOSED

For Jeff Bain, the issue is clear.

When Gov. George Allen is reducing funding to higher education and cutting back in most areas of state government, Bain sees no reason to put public funds in the hands of the private sector.

That's how Bain, a candidate for the Pulaski County School Board, sees the debate over charter schools.

If Allen is looking for support for charter schools, he won't find it among school board candidates in Western Virginia in the nine-county region from Bedford to Giles counties.

Most candidates responding to a questionnaire by The Roanoke Times oppose charter schools and would not vote to approve them for their counties.

"I personally do not support charter schools, because I believe that the creative teaching techniques proposed for charter schools should be tried in the existing schools," said David Sulzen, a candidate in Floyd County.

Allen and many Republicans in the General Assembly support the experimental schools that have been approved in 19 states, but most Democratic lawmakers oppose them.

Charter schools are independent, publicly funded schools that are operated by teachers, parents, private groups or others that obtain a contract - or "charter" - from local school boards. They are free from most regulations and policies of the state and local school board.

Advocates say charter schools allow teachers and parents to tailor schools to meet the specific needs of children. They say charter schools would offer a choice to parents and stimulate improvement at other public schools.

But opponents argue that charter schools would siphon off funds and the best students from the public school system and lead to resegregation.

A few school board candidates said, however, they support charter schools and would vote for them.

"Public schools shouldn't be afraid of charter or private schools," said Robert Anderson, a candidate for the Montgomery County School Board

"Isn't our goal to have quality education for our children, whether it is done in the private school or the public school?" asked Anderson.

The General Assembly has refused to approve proposals for charter schools, but a legislative study committee is reviewing the concept and will make a recommendation to the legislature at its next session.

Keywords:
POLITICS