ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, September 18, 1996 TAG: 9609180096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
IN A VISIT TO CAVE SPRING High School on Tuesday, Gov. George Allen touted his record on education and economic development.
Cave Spring High senior Julie Kittelson wants to go into desktop publishing and perhaps work for an advertising agency when she gets out of college.
But she's already worried about whether she'll be able to get a good job.
So when Gov. George Allen visited the school Tuesday, Kittelson wanted to know what he is doing to help create jobs.
Allen was prepared. He used the question to underscore the reason for his visit to the Roanoke County school.
He said the state's new academic standards, the centerpiece of his education reforms, would help attract high-tech industries and businesses to Virginia.
Allen said many corporate executives complain that many workers don't have the education and job skills needed for today's jobs.
"Education matters, and you won't get the best jobs unless you have the fundamentals in math, science and other subjects," he told Kittelson. "These new standards in the basics will help make Virginia more attractive to businesses."
Allen has cited his foreign trade missions and his record in attracting a reported $10 billion in new investment in the state as part of his effort to create jobs..
He is leaving today on another trip to several European countries to try to increase exports for Virginia companies.
The governor came to Cave Spring to talk to a senior government class as part of his campaign to focus attention on the new academic standards in English, math, science and history.
Allen said he is talking with school principals, teachers and students to get a firsthand understanding of how the new standards are working.
He said he chose Cave Spring teacher Joe LaRocco's class for one stop because the school has high academic expectations and achievement.
"Some people say these new standards won't work, but you're proving it can be done," he told the students. "You didn't wait around for standards. You have high expectations and attendance, and your SAT scores show you're not satisfied with being average."
Pointing to a map, Allen gave the students a brief lesson in geography as he described France, Austria, Hungary, Poland and other countries he will visit on his trade mission.
Allen hit on another priority of his administration, talking about his efforts to halt tuition increases at the state's colleges and universities. He said tuition will be frozen in the next two years and that he favors holding the line until 2000.
Referring to several large new businesses that have recently located in Northern and Central Virginia, one student wanted to know what Allen is doing to recruit businesses for the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia.
He pointed to the Donnelley book-publishing plant under construction in Roanoke County and several new businesses that have located in Botetourt County during the past year.
He told the students he supports the construction of the "smart" road in Montgomery County because he believes it will help create jobs and spur transportation research.
Neither Allen nor school officials discussed the crowded conditions at Cave Spring and last spring's defeat of a bond issue for a new school, but a reporter asked the governor what he was doing to help localities pay for school improvements.
Allen said he has halted the transfer of Literary Fund money to other agencies and directed that it be used for low-interest loans for school improvements.
Senior Susanne Bell, managing editor of the school newspaper, said she was impressed with Allen's visit even though it didn't focus on the need for a new school.
"He seemed to be impressed with our school," Bell said. "It makes me feel that I'm getting a good education even in these conditions."
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: NHAT MEYER/Staff. Gov. George Allen, in a visit Tuesdayby CNBto Cave Spring High School, responds to a question from senior
Susanne Bell, the managing editor of the school newspaper.