THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9407260227
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jon Glass
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Norfolk schools for the first time this fall will charge tuition to parents who want to enroll their 4-year-olds in kindergarten. The cost for the school year: $2,578.
The tuition follows General Assembly action that this year eliminates state aid for the underage kindergartners, who don't meet state criteria of readiness, Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. said.
Virginia Beach, Nichols said, currently charges $1,800 tuition for the 4-year-olds. Nichols said Norfolk arrived at its tuition figure by subtracting the $1,792 in local tax support per pupil from the $4,370 per pupil educational costs.
``It's still in the ballpark, if you're talking about a good daycare program,'' Nichols said in defending Norfolk's proposed tuition. ``We're not legally required to make kindergarten available to these people.''
The School Board unanimously approved the charge at its meeting last Thursday. Minority business up
After its first 12 months of beefing up efforts, the school system has more than doubled the amount of business it farmed out to minority- and women-owned businesses.
Frank Powell, director of purchases and supply, said minority- and women-owned firms received contracts totaling $1.1 million during fiscal year 1994, from July 1993 to June 1994. That compares to $544,912 in 1993.
Systemwide, the school paid $25.8 million to contractors. Minority- and women-owned firms cashed in on about 4.4 percent of the action.
The gains are attributed to a procurement committee formed last year to identify and assist minority businesses interested in bidding for school contracts.
During 1994, minority-owned businesses delivered a range of services, from providing cafeteria food and office furniture to performing vehicle repairs and heating and plumbing work. Enroll early, beat the rush
To prevent a fall crunch, Norfolk schools are open this summer to enroll kindergartners and students who are newcomers to the city or are transferring to another school within the district.
Parents and guardians are urged to take advantage of this early enrollment to ensure that class assignments and student schedules are completed before school starts Sept. 7.
To enroll, kindergartners and new students at all grade levels must present a birth certificate, proof of a medical physical within the previous 12 months, an up-to-date immunization record, a TB test, a Social Security number and proof of residency.
Students transferring to another school within the district must show proof of residency and, if available, their latest report card. Also, incoming sixth-graders are required to have a second MMR immunization before entering middle school.
For details, contact your child's school. Orderly treatment
The School Board last week adopted an official policy that spells out procedures to be used by school officials before administering medication or treatment to students.
The policy allows school officials to administer medication or treatment only after receiving a written order from a physician or licensed nurse practitioners. Also, parents or a legal guardian must sign a form giving their approval. A medical official or school office personnel must witness their signature.
The school system in the past took advice from the School Health Council. School officials developed the policy because of concern over a nationwide rise in lawsuits and an increase in questions about the local practice of handling prescription medication for students. In the money
The class of 1994 is headed for college with a hefty sum of cash to help pay for their education. School officials report that 177 of this year's 1,090 grads received scholarships totaling $3.4 million.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS by CNB