ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190052
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
The Pulaski County School Board agreed Thursday night to be a new partner with the New Century Council.
The board accepted the recommendation of Ron Chaffin, one of its members, to take part in council activities.
Pulaski County already is well represented on the New Century Council, with residents heading three of the council's seven Vision Committees.
Chaffin is chairman of the council's Education Committee. Dr. Carol Pratt, a Pulaski County dentist, is chairwoman of its Health & Safety Committee. New River Community College President Edwin Barnes is chairman of its Leadership Committee.
In other business, the School Board got updates on funds available for the 1996-97 year. Superintendent Bill Asbury reported about $730,000 in new state money, but no change in proposed teacher salary raises which remain at 1.75 percent starting in 1997.
Board Chairman Lewis Pratt called that "a big disappointment ... almost an insult." The state money for raises covers only those teachers working in positions required under state Standards of Quality, and Pulaski County has gone beyond those standards. So the state funding will cover only about 60 percent of the county's teachers, with raises for the others having to come from local funds.
The school system is also down by $105,000 in the state money it gets based on average daily attendance, said Walt Shannon, its business manager. The number of students has dropped below projected levels, he said.
But among students enrolled in the school system, attendance is high, board member Rhea Saltz pointed out. It is higher than 96 percent at Dublin Middle School and Newbern Elementary School, above 97 percent at Riverlawn Elementary, and between 92 percent and 95 percent for the others.
Dropouts also have been reduced, so much so that the county is losing state funding for its dropout prevention program, Asbury said.
The board has been working on its 1996-97 budget in a series of workshops, and member Jeff Bain said it was not making adequate progress. He suggested, and the board agreed, that a budget meeting be held starting at 7:30 a.m. March 21 and that work continue until budget preparations are complete.
With 12 days missed so far because of weather in the current school year, the last day of school is set for June 12. Reports cards go home April 17.
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