ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 1997 TAG: 9701220064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
If silence can be interpreted as satisfaction, most residents apparently have no objection to Superintendent Wayne Harris' proposed school budget for next year.
Harris scheduled a town meeting Tuesday night at William Fleming High School to get public reaction to his proposed $87.5 million spending plan.
But no one showed up, except four school administrators and a reporter.
Harris' reaction was mixed.
"In some ways, it's disappointing not to have people come out and show more interest in the budget," he said.
But he also believes that it indicated that many parents and other residents support the spending plan and school funding priorities.
The budget reflects the concerns of site-based school councils and other advisory groups, he said. "I hope this shows that people believe we listened to them in preparing the budget."
Some teachers are angry that he has recommended an average raise of 4.1 percent for them next year. They claim the School Board and superintendent promised a 6 percent raise as part of a three-year plan to raise salaries to the national average.
Esther Cirasunda, president of the Roanoke Education Association, said no teachers attended the town meeting because they considered it to be "more geared to the neighborhood" to get the reaction of parents and other residents.
Some teachers might speak at the School Board's budget workshop next week or at another public hearing next month, she said.
"We're listening right now, but we're still concerned about salaries and other issues," Cirasunda said when contacted after Tuesday night's meeting.
She said the teachers might take their case to City Council if the School Board won't support them on the salary issue.
Harris and board members have denied that they promised a 6 percent raise. They said they remain committed to increasing Roanoke's salaries to the national average by the 1998-99 school year.
They said the average 4.1 percent raise next year will keep Roanoke teachers on track to reach the national average because raises for teachers in the rest of the country were smaller this year than expected.
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