ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080052
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Whatever the outcome of the Sugar Bowl, Montgomery County public school students will have a reason to celebrate.
The School Board voted 8-1 to extend winter break to Jan. 2 so that teachers and families could attend the New Year's Day game in New Orleans.
Superintendent Herman Bartlett told the board Tuesday schools were "pushing the limit" on the number of teachers who had requested a personal leave day for Jan. 2. Bartlett later said 41 teachers had requested leave, but that was before Virginia Tech's Sugar Bowl bid even was announced.
To compensate for the change, Bartlett proposed changing March 11 from a teacher workday to a school day.
Vice Chairman Barry Worth opposed the change. He cited a Christiansburg Middle School letter, sent out to parents Monday, that listed the end of winter break as Jan. 2.
"It just sort of sticks down here in my craw that this would go out to parents before it even went before the School Board," he said. "People think it's a done deal."
Bartlett said the letter was inadvertently sent out before the board could vote.
"The administration simply messed up ..., and regardless of what the board decides we will send an apology out," he said.
Montgomery County Education Association president Karen Trear said the change, while not impacting the number of days students will go to school, "puts the pressure on teachers' backs."
Teachers use workdays - scheduled at the end of six-week grading periods - to decide grades and meet with parents. Trear said teachers will have to work extra hours for several days just to make up the work without the March work day.
If the MCEA representatives agree, Trear said she would request that the board take a day off spring break or add a day to the end of the year to make up for Jan. 2.
Some School Board members took the lighter side of the issue, particularly after member Peggy Arrington suggested Jan. 2 should be a permanent part of winter break in case Tech makes it to another bowl game.
"Well, it'll never happen again so don't worry about it," quipped member David Moore, a graduate of Bluefield State in West Virginia.
"I rule you out of order, young man," barked Chairman Roy Vickers, a loyal Tech fan.
Dick Edwards, pointing to University of Virginia graduate Mary Beth Dunkenberger, asked Moore: "Did she feed you that line?"
The Wahoo smiled coyly. "No, I just seconded it."
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB