ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 20, 1997 TAG: 9704210018
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER THE ROANOKE TIMES
The candidates for the Roanoke School Board want schools that are orderly, stress the basics and set high academic standards for students.
There is no disagreement on one thing: Roanoke's schools should be orderly, with high academic standards and a priority on the basics.
The differences are in the School Board candidates' emphasis and opinions on the best way to accomplish the goal.
All six finalists for the three board seats think disruptive students should be removed from the regular classroom. All say safety and discipline in schools should be a priority.
Half of them support the Roanoke Education Association's request for a study of discipline problems. The others say they are either undecided or need more information.
"I feel a study is needed because discipline is always a concern in schools," Sherman Lea said in response to a questionnaire by The Roanoke Times. "Serious violations require tougher penalties, and there should be consistency in enforcing a code of conduct."
Sherrie Boone backs the REA's request because, she said, "Studies provide information, and an educational system plans and decides effectively with input from those who are affected."
Joann Hamidullah said she would support the teachers' organization proposal if it's a broad-based study.
"I believe strongly that we must maintain safety in the schools and discipline in the classroom," said Webster Day, but he added that he's undecided on whether a study is warranted.
Without statistics showing whether discipline problems have increased in recent years, Michael Ramsey said, it would be difficult to know whether a study is needed. If there is a problem, consultants should be hired to make the study, he said.
Board Chairwoman Marsha Ellison, the only incumbent among the finalists, said the schools have tried to deal with the discipline issue by adopting a new student conduct code and other measures. If these are not adequate, Ellison said, she would consider the appointment of another committee to study discipline.
The newspaper asked the finalists about discipline, magnet schools, test scores and other educational issues.
Esther Cirasunda, president of the REA, has said that some teachers are upset by what they see as a lack of support by principals and administrators on discipline.
Teachers sometimes feel they are put on trial because some principals seem more inclined to accept the word of students and parents than teachers in disputes over discipline, she said.
Cirasunda has asked the board to appoint a task force to study discipline and the educational climate in the schools, but the board has taken no action on it.
City Council will hold a public hearing at 7p.m. Monday to hear residents' comments on the finalists for the seats with new terms that begin July1.
Council will interview them publicly at 6p.m. Thursday and make the appointments May12.
Vice Chairman John Saunders is not seeking a new term and Marilyn Curtis is ineligible for reappointment because she has served three terms.
Several finalists said the schools need to improve students' academic performance and ensure that the core academic subjects of math, science, English and history remain a priority.
``We must raise the level of academic performance ... and at the same time lower the dropout rate,'' Day said.
Lea said the most pressing need is to raise standardized test scores, and Ellison also cited the need to improve academic achievement.
The school division's biggest problem is ``providing for all of the things we must do and for the things we'd like to do - within a balanced budget,'' Boone said.
Ramsey thinks the schools need a master plan for budget and instructional issues, and Hamidullah thinks the city needs to provide more support for schools.
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