Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 29, 1995 TAG: 9509290087
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"There is no point in challenging anyone as long as this is pending," Superintendent Deanna Gordon said Thursday. "Our intent was always to go slow on this, and we had no intent to take parents to court."
Gordon said there also is the possibility that the state Department of Education might issue a directive on the "parental responsibility contract," which has sparked controversy.
Thomas and Deloras Whitt, the parents of a William Byrd High School student, have refused to sign the contract and filed a lawsuit claiming that the new state mandate violates their religious beliefs.
Last week, the county school system said that it would not seek to fine the Whitts or other parents who had "legitimate concerns" about signing the pledge, until the constitutional issue has been resolved.
But Gordon, in an interview after Thursday's School Board meeting, broadened that to include any parents who do not sign the contract.
County Attorney Paul Mahoney said several school systems have contacted his office since the lawsuit was filed. Other localities might become involved in the case, but no decision has been made at this point, he said.
Don Huffman, attorney for the Whitts, has said the couple will proceed with the lawsuit and seek a ruling on the law's constitutionality, even though the county won't seek a fine in the meantime.
The law provides that parents can be fined $50 for refusing to sign the contract to assist the schools in disciplining their children. But it does not require schools to send parents who do not sign to court.
The American Civil Liberties Union has asked school systems not to force parents to sign the pledge. Several localities have said they won't seek fines.
On another matter, the School Board was told that county schools would receive an additional $12.8 million annually in state funds if a proposed new state school-funding formula is approved.
The new formula, proposed by the Virginia Education Association, would provide more state money because it would be based on realistic costs for schools and would provide funds for school construction, said Kitty Boitnott, president of District 4 of the VEA.
She said the state's current funding formula is "broken" and shortchanges students, taxpayers and teachers. The VEA plans to mount another lobbying effort to get the General Assembly to adopt the proposed formula, she said.
Boitnott said the state plays "games" with school divisions and underestimates the cost of education so it will have to provide less money.
"No one here would disagree with you," Chairman Jerry Canada told Boitnott.
"Before schools are broken, the funding problem must be fixed," Boitnott said.
by CNB