THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 29, 1994 TAG: 9412240103
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 111 lines
SINCE ARRIVING as the city's top educator 1 1/2 years ago, Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. has gradually put his imprint on the system: He has realigned his administration, shuffled principals and put plans in place to raise academic achievement, increase attendance, reduce discipline problems and increase community involvement.
Nichols describes himself as an administrator unafraid of change, an innovator at heart, but a pragmatist where budget matters are concerned - in other words, new programs must produce proven benefits to receive continued funding.
Bringing with him a new style and philosophy, he has found that his message has been slow to reach some quarters, filtering through a system forged during nine years under former Superintendent Gene Carter.
In a recent speech to administrators, Nichols distilled his vision for the school system in seven ``C's.''
Nichols outlined his vision this way:
Customer focus. His top priority, to make certain that the schools meet the needs of parents and students to ensure academic success.
Classroom learning. To get the highest performance from each student.
Community involvement. To make the community feel welcome to the schools and to share in decision-making.
Choice. To increase the educational options for parents and students.
Cost-effectiveness. Do more with less.
Computers. Use technology as much as possible in the classroom.
Change. While frightening, it can be invigorating.
These are excerpts from an interview in which Nichols elaborated on his vision:
You recently outlined your vision for Norfolk public schools as the seven ``C's.'' Is this something new?
No, I've been articulating my vision for the school system for some time. I recently attended an administrative staff workshop where a consultant asked them if they could succinctly describe the school superintendent's vision, and they sat there like bumps on a log. So I decided I'd better figure out a more catchy way of communicating the vision, so I came up with the ``C's.''
How is the school system responding to the demand for choice now?
We have one systemwide elementary school, Ghent Elementary; anyone from the system can choose to go there and we'll transport them. We also have half-day choice programs in the Governor's School for the Performing Arts, the EVMS (Eastern Virginia Medical School) program for medical professions, and we've got the vocational/technical school. But I think we must to go further than that. I believe that the path ahead for public education in America is going to have choice throughout the landscape, and if we don't get out in front of the parade and create choices for parents, it'll be thrust upon us through government rules and regulations and programs.
Some people say public schools would be improved by competition if government awarded vouchers or tuition tax credits to parents who want to send their kids to private schools. Are you opposed to vouchers or tuition tax credits?
Very much so, absolutely. One of the strengths of public schools in America is having kids from different socio-economic backgrounds going to school together, learning to understand, to tolerate and to like one another. With vouchers or tax credits, I believe we will have private schools for the haves and public schools for the have-nots, and I'm afraid it would begin the disintegration of our country.
Where does the school system stand right now as far as computers in the schools?
We're relatively well off, if you look at a computers-per-pupil ratio. I think we're at about one computer to every 20 students. That's pretty good compared to a lot of other school systems throughout the nation. But I believe where we need to go is one computer per child, so we're a long, long way from that. On top of that, many of the computers we do have are of limited value; they're like the PC juniors that won't do a whole lot; they're old and need to be replaced. Many of our computers are not networked the way they should be. If we're going to climb onto the information highway we need to be tied into the Internet, and we're not.
In stressing classroom learning, you tell teachers that they must choose between being lenient on students in order to be liked or being demanding in order to be admired later. Does it really come down to that choice?
Well, those are the two extremes. But very often, a lot of children don't like to do hard
work, especially in our immediate gratification society. In order to demand the very best of the student academically, we can't let them just get by with doing enough to get by.
What new initiatives would you like to see funded in 1995-96, and how will you do it if there's not going to be any new money?
I'd like to put on the drawing board and put into practice a couple of new magnet programs, to give parents more choice . . . I don't know where the board is on this, but most of the senior administrators have agreed that a significant pay raise for employees needs to be a priority item this year, and we've got to cut to get there, because we don't see a large amount of new dollars. . . . Right now we're going through the process of searching, looking for where we think we can cut.
What would you consider a significant pay raise for employees?
In the 4 to 5 percent range. Certainly more than 3 percent. I'd love to see a 5 percent increase if we can afford it.
As the first half of this school year ends, how do you assess the performance of the school system?
I think we're making good, solid progress. We've taken on being stern and firm in our administration of discipline, and I think we've seen tremendous success there. We've taken on increased attendance, and we've seen success there. We've taken on trying to open our buildings up more to the public, and we have seen some success there, not sweeping yet, but we're issuing more use permits than ever before. The next goal has to be impact on student achievement, and I see that as certainly the premier goal that we need to aim at next year. We're already starting to move toward that, since it's one of our three major goals this year. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Roy Nichols has been superintendent for 1 1/2 years.
by CNB