ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996              TAG: 9608150077
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH

VA. BEACH BOARD MEMBERS CLEARED

Two members of the School Board during the time a $12.1 million deficit was run up were acquitted Wednesday of malfeasance charges involving the overspending.

After a jury returned the verdicts, Tim Jackson and Ferdinand Tolentino emerged from the courtroom smiling.

``I feel as though I have cleared my name,'' Tolentino said. ``All the words like `unfit' and `incompetent' are gone now.''

Those adjectives, and worse, were used by a special grand jury that investigated the fiscal 1994-95 deficit last winter. The panel blamed school administrators for the excess spending and the School Board for failing to supervise them.

Five board members resigned, but Jackson and Tolentino refused. Jackson is still on the board; Tolentino's term ended June 30.

- Associated Press

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