THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503170174
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Complaints from the I.C. Norcom Band Parents about water standing several inches deep in the band room on recent rainy days probably are just the beginning of a long list of complaints that eventually will crop up about the city school buildings.
In recent years, including this one, most of the city's capital budget for schools has been allocated toward the construction of a new I.C. Norcom High School. There is no money left over for maintenance and repairs of existing school buildings.
A large amount of money also has been earmarked to refurbish buildings that will function as neighborhood schools beginning next year. That is a necessary expense if the neighborhood school plan is going to be successful because parents will be able to choose which school a child attends and nobody is going to choose a run-down building.
The Norcom parents are absolutely right. Water should not be standing in any school room. However, under recent sieges of rain, probably more than one building had standing water.
The schools are going to suffer because there is not enough money to make regular repairs to the buildings. And it will only get worse until the new school is completely funded.
It's a simple matter of fact that this city can't afford to build a $35 million school and maintain its other school buildings at the same time.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL FUNDING
by CNB