THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 21, 1994 TAG: 9408190266
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Everyone thought it was settled. Then during a City Council retreat last week, controversy over the new I.C. Norcom High School cropped up once again.
Some council members wondered whether it was worth $32 million to keep peace in the community and racial harmony. Some wondered whether racial discord would be as strong as they expected.
Other council members were indignant that the project was being questioned once again.
Several people in the community told the facilitator who directed the council's goal-setting session that they were tired of waiting for the new I.C. Norcom and that they had become impatient with the process.
``We've been talking about I.C. Norcom for 20 years,'' Councilman Johnny C. Clemons said. ``It's past time that we put this behind us and stop talking about it. We need to get this school done.''
But some council members aren't convinced that the school's benefits are worth the more than $30 million price tag.
Some admit that with declining enrollment in the schools, the advantage of building a new I.C. Norcom might be more for future economic development and racial harmony than for education. But they say it's worth the cost.
The two new council members, P. Ward Robinett and James T. Martin had more questions than strong opinions on the project.
Before the elections, the project's only opponent was Councilman James C. Hawks, who said a new school is not needed and the proposed project is far too expensive. Robinett and Martin were concerned that the city couldn't afford the project but said they also were sensitive that the school was extremely important to the city's African-American community.
``No one disagrees that we've got to do something about this school,'' Martin said. ``But the costs and the alternatives need to be explored. We've got to get some sort of control.''
Hawks said: ``If we dump $32 million into a school we don't need, where's the money going to come from to do all the other projects we said we want. You're talking about building a school simply for societal needs.''
Robinett compared building the school to opening a new bank.
``It would be like me building a new branch and losing money the day I move in,'' Robinett said. ``It's absurd. Why is the school costing us $32 million? Why are we spending $5,400 a student when other cities are spending $4,000 per student.''
Robinett said if the city builds Norcom, then it will be forced to close one of it's other high schools.
But Councilman Cameron C. Pitts, who supports building the new Norcom, said he hopes Tidewater Community College would utilize the new high school to offer some college courses in the city.
Council Bernard D. Griffin said he was angry that there even was a question over constructing the new school.
``We should have spent the whole retreat discussing this,'' Griffin said. ``This is why people don't trust politicians. We voted 6-1 to build this, and now we have new council members and we're hearing more rhetoric. Any time the community sees that leadership can't set a direction, there's a problem.''
City Manager V. Wayne Orton promised to get the council detailed financial information on the project, as well as cost alternatives.
The council did not settle the issue but said it will continue to talk about the issue in future sessions. In the meantime, contractors are continuing work at the site of the proposed school.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL RETREAT by CNB