Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 13, 1995 TAG: 9511140005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BEN R. SHRADER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I'm precluded by state law from making comments regarding personnel issues. However, personnel have a School Board appeal procedure and a state grievance procedure if they feel they're treated unfairly by the administration. I cannot find any evidence that school-system personnel have been treated unfairly by the administration. I've spent time talking with various teachers, and I don't perceive a morale problem among them.
On another point: Gardner states that the Iowa Basic Skills Test is administered at grade 11, and compares this to fourth-grade scores, indicating a 14 percent drop in student performance. The test isn't administered at grade 11. The Virginia State Assessment Program currently consists of the ITBS at grades four and eight. In the 11th grade, the Test of Achievement and Proficiency is given. Our children are performing at expected levels. I know this not only as a School Board member but also as a parent.
Factual information needs to be analyzed before comparisons can be made in assessing student achievement. In 1994-95, the school division tested 91 percent of students enrolled in grade 11. The percentage tested at grade 11 for the state as a whole was 87 percent. The class of '96 has consistently matched the pattern for the equivalent-year state scores.
In reviewing the division's test scores over time, it should be noted that at grade eight, reading comprehension and science scores have significantly improved. There has been no significantly measurable decline in any subtest at any grade level tested between '88 and '95. This clearly constitutes a trend toward higher achievement.
An additional 28 instructional aides were added to assist teachers in the classroom this year. Although expenditures per pupil for instructional materials were adjusted from $30 to $20, total instructional expenditures have increased from a 1994-95 expenditure of $784,373 to a 1995-96 expenditure of $892,155.
Concerning other issues raised in his letter: The Virginia Education Association report for 1993-94 didn't take into account our city funds. The city's contribution of $3.5 million would have more of an impact than reported by Gardner. It's interesting to note that in the same report our county ranked 54th out of 134 school divisions in the percentage of ninth graders that graduated from high school in 1993-94. That's higher than many school divisions in Central Virginia.
The school system hasn't had any cost overruns on construction projects. All construction projects are publicly bid, and contracts have been awarded to the lowest bidder. Bids are analyzed by the School Board along with the architect's recommendations. If needed, the scope of work is adjusted to bring projects in line with available funds. No contracts are awarded unless there's a financial commitment from the Board of Supervisors.
It's indeed possible for a student's textbook to be up to 15 years old. Due to the state's postponement, up to 35 percent of the books currently on the adoption list are more than six to 10 years old. This is the case in all school divisions in the state. The school system is allotting $91,256 to the schools for textbook maintenance, and will expend more than $169,557 for purchasing textbooks this school year in addition to monies allocated to the schools.
Gardner reports the state gave the county $450,000 over the past two years for buying textbooks. Textbook payment by the state is part of the standards of quality mechanism. Expenditures for materials, supplies and textbooks exceeded the required amounts in both years. The state implemented the textbook program statewide so that a free-textbook system would be implemented. Bedford County doesn't charge parents for textbooks nor does the school system charge a materials fee to parents.
It's obvious to anyone who visits one of our three high-school libraries that each has a computerized circulation system and a CD ROM electronic encyclopedia available for students. Each school is currently developing a technology plan, and further enhancements will be made as personnel training increases to meet the technology available.
There was a balance of $468,069 left on the books in our schools as of June 30. Gardner says that 90 percent of those funds are in student-activities accounts. Only $101,041 of those funds are for student activities. This leaves $367,028 in instructional categories. The school system doesn't deficit spend in any account.
The School Board employs a superintendent and annually reviews his job performance. Bedford County is the 22nd-largest school division in the state, and our county's per-pupil administrative-overhead cost is the lowest in the state.
The school system has made tremendous progress in the past nine years. Student population has increased from 7,922 to 9,950, and the number of teachers has grown from 483 to 704. The school budget has increased from $26,732,028 to $43,011,596. The system has had tremendous support from the community and its governing body. The past four school budgets were approved as presented. Each school has a strong Parent-Teachers Association, and parents are actively involved in our school programs.
I've served on the School Board for nine years and am proud of the school system's accomplishments.
Ben R. Shrader is chairman of the Bedford County School Board.
by CNB