
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994                    TAG: 9406170200 
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS                     PAGE: 07    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Medium 
DATELINE: 940619                                 LENGTH:

SCHOOL MANAGEMENT FEE COULD BE BETTER SPENT

{LEAD} Forty thousand dollars. For many families in Portsmouth, this is a yearly income that they will not have earned. In our city, there are thousands of families in which both spouses work to come close to this figure. This is the price tag that taxpayers have paid to have contract management companies supply our superintendent and School Board with fresh ideas.

Although we have not seen the proposals afforded by the four finalist companies, we can venture to guess that many of their ideas are not that new. Our schools have principals and teachers who have innovative ideas and approaches to teaching, but it is becoming increasingly clear that their ideas are falling on deaf ears. Each year, the professionals attend conferences designed to increase learning potential. For the last two years, school improvement teams, comprising principals, teachers and parents have addressed and outlined a course of action to improve their own schools. Dr. Richard Trumble has failed to act vigorously on changes that these teams have recommended. These teams have a vested interest in their schools because the outcome involves them directly.

{REST} What could $40,000 have been constructively used for? The list is overwhelming. It is money that could have been used for a down payment on the new math books that our students will not be receiving in September. Two new teachers could have been hired. Several paraprofessionals could have been spared their jobs. Computers and progressive software could have been purchased. Two elementary schools could have had their badly worn carpeting replaced. Window air conditioners could have been purchased for schools lacking relief from the heat. It could have been used to supply special education teachers with the tools they need to assure achievement of their students. This list is seemingly endless.

Many parents would like to offer a few ``fresh ideas'' of their own to the incoming members of the School Board and City Council:

Streamline the school administration starting at the superintendent's office. Spending reductions at the top would increase the actual money each school receives per student. Nearly half the $5,000 allotted each student is used in administrative costs.

Cap or restrict fact-finding travel expenses. Contract management ``fact finding'' has come at a high cost not only monetarily but in credibility. In the future, parents may do very little to support programs that will truly work due to the tactics used during the quest for contract management.

Here is the most innovative idea of all - listen to what the persons affected by our decisions have to say. Parents and professionals alike researched and compiled data that provided evidence that contract management has not worked.

As for my two cents in that $40,000, I would be appreciative if Dr. Trumble and the School Board would publicly acknowledge that James Hurst Elementary and Cradock Middle School made more than a ``notable improvement'' in standardized test scores. This year, our teachers and children worked hard to become standardized test friendly and they deserve more than a mere pass-off. James Hurst and Cradock Middle schools now rank near the top one-third in the city in testing. This is a job well done.

We still may not have the freedom to elect our School Board and superintendent, but a least we have the freedom to stand by our commitment to quality education.

Katherine A. Mondak

Harris Road

June 14, 1994

by CNB