ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 14, 1995 TAG: 9512150018
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
Salem School Board members said good-bye to 15-year board veteran Glenn O. Thornhill Tuesday night and passed a resolution to recognize his commitment to the division.
Thornhill, president of Maid Bess, Corp., was one of the five board members who voted for Salem to become an independent school division in 1983.
"We did some pretty good things and have had the opportunity to develop a super school system," Thornhill said after a standing ovation from the audience that included school system staff.
In the board's resolution, Thornhill is called "a leader during the formative stage of the Salem school division. He also was commended for being a strong disciplinarian and pushing for Salem schools to lower student-teacher ratios.
Thornhill said he is proud of what the board accomplished during his tenure.
"I have to think the desire to provide the very finest education for students of Salem, to me," has been the biggest priority, Thornhill said. "I think we're doing an excellent job of fulfilling that."
In other action the School Board:
Passed a resolution recognizing former Salem Police Chief Harry Haskins, who retired in November.
"He cared deeply for young people," Superintendent Wayne Tripp said.
The School Board praised Haskins' leadership in the formation of Salem's Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and the city's Camp D.A.R.E.
Approved the adoption of a new reading curriculum for elementary schools. Starting in the fall of 1996, the school will use Treasury of Literature textbooks from Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
The texts are an anthology of short literary selections, said Judy Self, director of elementary education.
Self said the program will develop reading, comprehension and writing skills.
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