ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604260095
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Roanoke School Board member Charles Day said Thursday night he could support a merit pay plan that would provide bonuses or higher salaries for outstanding teachers, but it might be difficult to develop a fair evaluation system for such a plan.
"I think merit pay would be a good incentive. It would be a way to keep good teachers so they wouldn't have to go into administration to make more money," Day said.
But he told City Council that merit pay plans have been discarded by some school divisions because of controversy over the evaluation system.
Day and three other School Board finalists were quizzed by council members on a variety of school issues in public interviews, which are part of the selection process.
A board member for six years and a retired educator, Day is seeking reappointment to one of the two seats with terms beginning July 1. Day is a part-time counselor at Virginia Western Community College.
Finn Pincus, the other incumbent whose term expires June 30, is not seeking reappointment.
Martin Jeffrey, another finalist, said he would try to get parents more involved in the education of their children if he is selected.
"I firmly believe that the key to moving our schools forward academically and in other ways is getting more parents involved," he said. "It would help in discipline and other areas."
Jeffrey, director of community development and outreach for Total Action Against Poverty, said he wants to be on the board because he has three children in school and he can give the board another perspective.
"I can bring something to the board. I've been out there in the community organizing and working with people," he said. Jeffrey said he also has the perspective of a young divorced black male who is raising children.
James Lowe, head of the construction management department for Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern, said the schools must not overlook the educational basics as they incorporate technology into the curriculum and prepare youngsters for the future.
He said the school system's greatest strength is its teachers and administrators. But city students' scores on standardized tests are not as high as they should be, Lowe said. The city's scores are lower than those of many nearby school systems.
Brian Wishneff, the fourth finalist, said schools are a crucial element in attracting new business and industry to the city.
As a former chief of economic development for the city, Wishneff said, he was in the business of selling the schools to business prospects. As a board member, he said, he would be an advocate for the schools and work to make sure they remain a drawing card for businesses.
Wishneff, who has his own planning and management consulting business, has three children in city schools. He told council he believes the board needs some members with children in the schools.
Council will select the two board members May6.
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