ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 13, 1996 TAG: 9612130105
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
School officials in the Roanoke Valley said they are happy that Gov. George Allen is proposing more money for education, but they need more details before they'll know whether the proposals will provide any significant benefit.
"I view it as a positive move, but it will be only a drop in the bucket when you consider the school building needs in the state, which run into the billions," said Wayne Harris, Roanoke's superintendent.
Harris noted that Roanoke alone currently has $25 million in proposed school construction and renovation projects.
The additional money for teaching materials and workbooks for the tougher academic standards would be welcome, he said.
But Harris said he needs to know moredetails of the testing and special reading instruction for first-graders before he can respond.
If the tests are used to place more children in special education classes, Harris said, he's not sure he would favor it. "I think we already label too many children too early."
Deanna Gordon, Roanoke County superintendent, said she's glad that Allen is recommending more money for materials to help prepare students for the new academic standards.
"Without more state money, the new testing and assessment program becomes another unfunded state mandate," she said.
Gordon said she would welcome additional state money for schools regardless of the political jockeying over education funding.
"When politics serve education well, we will take the funds," she said.
Gordon said Allen's proposal for testing and special reading instruction for first-graders sounds like a good idea, but teachers can generally detect reading deficiencies fairly quickly.
County schools at one point had a similar diagnostic program for children at the end of the kindergarten year, she said.
County school officials have a special interest in state funds to help build schools or renovate facilities because of the defeat of a bond issue last spring and the need for school improvements.
Some officials have estimated that the county will need to spend more than $100 million on school buildings in the next five to 10 years. A residents' committee is currently studying the need for improvements at all county schools.
"We need more direct grants and money from the state for school buildings, not the ability to borrow more money," Gordon said. "Any direct help we can get will be welcomed."
But Allen's school construction initiative only provided more money for loans to school systems - not grants.
The county also needs more state money for the maintenance of schools, Gordon said.
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