ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Marsha Ellison never set out to become the first woman to head the Roanoke School Board. But it was probably inevitable, given her love of children and her concern for city schools.
Ellison was the unanimous choice to succeed Nelson Harris as chairman at the board's re-organizational meeting Tuesday.
She went to work immediately and presided over a 90-minute meeting without a hitch.
"I'm honored. I know I can count on you for support, advice and complaints," Ellison told board members.
Marilyn Curtis, an eight-year board veteran and vice chairman during the past year, did not seek the top post. She said her doctors advised against it because she has spinal problems.
Curtis nominated Ellison and John Saunders, who was chosen as vice chairman for the next year.
A Parent-Teacher Association leader for more than a decade and a board member for three years, Ellison has described herself as a consensus builder. She said she likes to work quietly and avoid confrontation.
In an earlier interview, she said, "I don't think you need to be in the limelight. I'm not out to get credit for anything. I do it for the kids."
Ellison, 45, will get more public attention in the new post.
She said her priorities will be the same as the board's: improving academic achievement and attendance, reducing the dropout rate, and upgrading the physical fitness of students.
Funding also will be a big issue during the next year as the board tries to persuade City Council to include $20 million for school improvements in a bond issue.
The money is needed to renovate Woodrow Wilson and Addison middle schools, air-condition a dozen elementary schools and construct additions to several elementary schools to accommodate enrollment increases.
"Our capital-funding needs will be critical," she said.
A Hollins College graduate, Ellison was a strong advocate of the $23 million long-range technology plan for city schools that was adopted last year.
"I want us to incorporate technology into the curriculum and put it to use to help better prepare our students - not to have it just to have it," she said.
Ellison has two daughters in school: Stefanie, a senior at Patrick Henry, and Caroline, an eighth-grader at Woodrow Wilson Middle School.
As a board member, she has visited many schools and attended school programs. She believes the schools are doing a good job, but can do better.
Soon after becoming chairman, Ellison learned she might have to deal with one potential controversy during the next year.
Kay Hale, director of the West End Center, told the board that she will file a complaint with the U.S. Office of Civil Rights because she claims the city is not doing enough to achieve racial balance in schools.
Hale, who is white, said she might also file a separate federal lawsuit charging the city with racial discrimination because of racial imbalance in the schools.
She said the city ought to provide free bus transportation to black students to attend schools in predominantly white neighborhoods.
Hale complained to the board in May and asked it to develop a plan and schedule for integration by this month.
When Hale asked for the board's response, Ellison told her that school officials had discussed the issue and concluded that the city already has a plan to help achieve racial balance.
Ellison noted that hundreds of black children are already bused to elementary schools in predominantly white neighborhoods to help improve racial balance.
"Our schools and the board encourage diversity," she said. The city's magnet schools are designed to try to improve the racial balance by recruiting white students to schools in predominantly black neighborhoods.
But Hale said the city's policies prevent her child from getting the highest quality of education in a racially diverse school. She said her son's home school district in Raleigh Court has an enrollment that is more than 90 percent white.
Ellison said she doesn't believe city residents want forced busing. Most elementary schools in predominantly white neighborhoods are full. If more black children are brought to these schools, some white children would have to be bused out of their neighborhoods to make room for them, school officials said.
Ellison said many parents prefer neighborhood schools. Roanoke is providing neighborhood schools as well as offering choice for students who want to attend magnet schools, she said.
Ellison said she expects the board to continue working together without major conflicts. Since Wayne Harris became superintendent, there have been few major disagreements among board members.
"I think we have a good working relationship on the board," she said. "I don't see any change in that."
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN SPEARMAN/Staff. Marsha Ellison was voted in Tuesdayby CNBas the new Roanoke
School Board chairman. color.