ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 1997 TAG: 9701080038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
A lack of money apparently will prevent Roanoke schools from boosting their efforts to recruit more black teachers next year.
Superintendent Wayne Harris said Tuesday that his proposed budget does not include funds to expand recruitment programs or to offer $2,000 pay incentives to help recruit the teachers.
In addition to recruitment offers, Harris had considered suggestions to expand a summer intern program and a tuition assistance plan to help persuade instructional aides to become teachers.
"These things were part of my budget discussions, but they did not make it into the budget that I presented to the School Board, because there wasn't enough money," Harris said.
The ideas for boosting the recruitment of black teachers are outlined in the preliminary budget document that was given to board members, but Harris is not recommending them for funding.
The proposed $87.5million budget has a $1.9million shortfall, but school officials hope the state and city will provide additional funds.
Still, Harris said it's unlikely there will be enough money to boost recruitment efforts.
Reacting to a newspaper editorial that criticized the suggestion for the $2,000 recruitment incentive, Harris said if the money were available, it would not be used exclusively to attract black teachers.
The funds could also be used to recruit white teachers in subjects in which there is a short supply, he said.
The incentives would be used to attract new teachers to come to Roanoke and work for at least two years. Nearly 40 percent of the city's students are black, while only 14.7 percent of the teachers are black or other minorities.
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