THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 29, 1994 TAG: 9406290374
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940629 LENGTH: WILLIAMSBURG
Sounding a theme similar to the popular concept that it takes a community to raise a child, Education Secretary Beverly Sgro said GOP Gov. George Allen ``wants to return control of the schools to the communities they serve.''
{REST} Sgro, speaking to the annual conference of the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, said Allen's goal for the next four years is to raise academic standards and student performance, and he wants localities to figure out the best classroom methods to accomplish that.
``Schools and communities should be empowered to determine how children are taught to meet the standards,'' said Sgro, who took office in January.
``We want to let you have the opportunity in your schools to decide what is best for your students in that environment.''
The principals' conference, held at the Williamsburg Hilton and National Conference Center, has provided one of the first public opportunities for Allen's top educators to discuss their priorities.
William C. Bosher Jr., state superintendent of public instruction, spoke Monday.
Although their messages were nearly identical and spoken in broad terms, neither Sgro nor Bosher discussed the costs of their proposals or the source for the extra funds.
School safety will be at the top of their agendas, they said.
Removing disruptive children from the classroom is part of that strategy, but both said more alternatives to expulsion or suspension are needed.
``We have an obligation to provide an educational experience for those children,'' Sgro said. ``Our problem doesn't end if we just put them on the street without any supervision.''
A 50-member commission appointed by Allen to recommend education changes is expected to complete most of its task by next June, Sgro said.
But some of the suggestions from the Commission on Champion Schools could be implemented sooner if legislative action were not required, she added.
One of the commission's duties is to recommend a new set of academic standards in basic subjects like math, English, science and social studies and develop a statewide biannual test to measure student performance.
The goal: to develop a standard of knowledge each child should master before passing to the next grade level.
The testing probably should begin in the first years of school to identify low-achieving children as early as possible.
``We need to start kids off on a level playing field,'' Sgro said.
Sgro said she envisioned the state's role as that of ``broker'' to expand parental and community involvement in schools. The state can help coordinate those efforts through its ``school-to-work'' program and business-in-education partnership.
It will take a while for any changes to produce results, Sgro cautioned.
``It won't be next year,'' she said, ``but you will be seeing differences in three or four years in the quality of our students.''
by CNB