ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 11, 1997 TAG: 9701130049
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
RICHMOND
GOVERNOR REVERSES his stand against taking Goals 2000 federal money.
Gov. George Allen said Friday he is ending his status as the only governor in the nation to turn down millions of federal education dollars under the Goals 2000 program.
After a two-year holdout that cost Virginia $8.4 million in aid, Allen said he has reached an understanding with federal officials that has persuaded him to apply for $14.9 million earmarked for Virginia through 1998.
Supported by several conservative and evangelical groups, the Republican governor had argued that acceptance would expose Virginia public schools to greater federal control and burdensome paperwork. U.S. education officials countered that the money - aimed at improving schools - comes without strings and that all Virginia would have to do is file reports showing how it was spent.
Allen said what changed his mind was a letter this week from Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., assuring him that Virginia could use the money solely to buy computers for classrooms.
School boards in Roanoke, Roanoke County and many other localities in Western Virginia had long advocated that Allen accept the Goals 2000 funds. School officials praised his announcement Friday.
Roanoke Superintendent Wayne Harris called Allen's decision a "wise move" that will benefit Virginia's schoolchildren.
Roanoke County Superintendent Deanna Gordon said almost every school division in the state can use more computers and related technology.
"I'm pleased that Virginia will have the opportunity to share in the funds," Gordon said. "This is a good resource that should help benefit our students."
Allen, who said he has been negotiating with U.S. education officials for more than a year, cited the letter from Lott as proof that he won a showdown with Washington.
"Virginia can apply for the money on our terms," Allen said. The state ``will not have to modify our standards of learning, assessments, accountability, curricula or other aspects of our Virginia education reforms.''
Democrats charged that Allen simply was seeking a way out of an unpopular stand that was likely to hurt Republicans this fall, when Virginia will elect a new governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general; all 100 seats in the House of Delegates are up for election.
Democrats have argued the Goals 2000 flap indicates that Allen and other Republican leaders are more concerned with conservative ideology than common sense.
Several Democrats noted that U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley gave assurances in a Oct. 1 letter to U.S. Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., that Virginia could use the money solely for computers.
"I can't truly speculate why the governor has had a change of heart," said Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, a Democrat.
"It may be that some members of his party were drifting away. I can't see any proof that anything changed," Beyer added, referring to Lott's letter.
Allen said Lott's letter offers assurance that Republican leaders will stand by the state should the Clinton administration try to impose new conditions on acceptance of the money.
Despite the posturing, both Democrats and Republicans expressed relief that the money finally would be coming to Virginia.
"Virginia schoolchildren have won," Beyer said.
Peter Decker, the last Democrat on the state Board of Education, celebrated Allen's turnabout. Decker advocated taking the money, but the board, dominated by Allen appointees, voted to oppose it.
Decker, whose term expires this month unless Allen chooses to reappoint him, said he viewed the governor's decision as a personal victory. The money could go far in providing technology to the state's most disadvantaged children, he said.
``I couldn't have more happiness within me,'' Decker said. ``For each individual student who will have access to a computer who would not otherwise have had access, this seems to me a very large decision. This will make a big difference.''
Both Roanoke and Roanoke County are expected to apply for a share of the federal money. Allen said localities can decide whether to seek a portion.
"I hope we can share in the funds," Harris said, noting that the city needs more money to help finance its 10-year technology plan.
Gordon said county schools have acquired more computers in recent years, but that they still need additional technology.
Roanoke school officials didn't share Allen's worries that acceptance of the money would lead to federal intrusion in local schools. They said earlier that the city has received millions of dollars in federal funds for its magnet programs, but it had encountered no problems with strings or burdensome regulations.
Landmark News Service writers Vanee Vines, Jon Glass, Matt Bowers and Roanoke Times staff writer Joel Turner contributed to this report.
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Gov. Allen, flanked by Education Secretary Beverlyby CNBSgro and Superintendent of Public Instruction Richard LaPointe,
tells reporters the funds will have no strings attached. color. KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997