THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503250086
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY: 3 NEW LEADERS
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
Q. Why were you interested in being on the School Board?
A. I have young children. I'm a product of the public school systems. One of my main reasons for moving into the North Great Neck area was because of the schools there. I've always been very much involved in my children's educations, looking out for the highest quality that I can attain for them as a parent. I think it's important for their futures, and when I speak of my own children, I'm also speaking of all the children in Virginia Beach. A high quality of education is important for their futures. And, also, a high quality of education is important for attracting new businesses to the area. That's one of the factors businesses consider in deciding whether or not to locate in Virginia Beach.
Q. Are you concerned at all about the circumstances that led to your appointment, following Charles W. Vincent's conviction and eviction from the board?
A. I'm aware of the circumstances that led to my appointment. And I certainly feel that Mr. Vincent has the constitutional right to take his legal appeal process as far as he can go with it. But I also think the law is very clear that he had to step down and forfeit his seat upon the conviction by the Circuit Court jury. Really, I think the business of the School Board needs to go on, and Mr. Vincent needs to understand that.
Q. What do you think is the most pressing issue facing city schools right now?
A. I certainly think the safety issue is No. 1 on my mind, and of course I have not had an opportunity to even attend a School Board meeting at this point. But safety is certainly at the top of the list. And that's safety from an environmental standpoint, wanting our children to have clean schools, classrooms that are free of environmental pollutants; personal safety, where our children and our teachers and our staff can attend schools without fear of physical violence or threats of physical violence.
Q. What will you do as a School Board member to address that issue?
A. I think the School Board is heading in the right direction on many issues that I will be involved with, the safety issue particularly. I think (former board chairman) Jim Darden was right in his vision for establishing the Safe Schools Task Force, and that's looking into school discipline - all of the safety aspects. I will certainly want to be involved in that. I will be looking forward to a report from that task force on all the safety issues. Of course, both the state legislature and the City Council have provided means to discipline students. They certainly have provided the School Board with laws and ordinances dealing with guns and drugs on school property. As a School Board member, I would plan on enforcing all of those laws and ordinances.
Q. What's the thing that city schools do best right now, in your opinion?
A. The school system itself serves varied needs of our children, from those in the gifted programs to those who are at-risk to those programs involving, say, dropout prevention. And I believe that the School Board and the school system itself are working to educate our children in a very positive way. I think often the problems generate the attention, whereas some of the positive performances go unnoticed. I believe I'll be able to give you more on that as I become more involved in the School Board itself and the school system.
I've always felt that my children have received an education of the highest quality, and I'm very, very happy with their performance and the performance of the staff and the administration of the schools that they've attended.
Q. What do you think should be the role of the School Board in determining the type of education that city children receive?
A. I think the School Board certainly is the policy- and decision-making body for the school system. But it also has to coordinate and be in partnership with the parents, students, staff and particularly the taxpayers in formulating policies and addressing issues. And we need to make sure that we're getting the most education and the very best education that we can possibly get from the dollars available. And I see that as a major role of the School Board, if not the role.
Q. Will you run for election in May 1996, when your seat will go on the ballot?
A. To answer that truthfully now, I would say that has to depend on my performance over the next 11 to 12 months. It will depend on the support I receive from friends and family. I certainly will not rule that out. MEMO: Staff writer Elizabeth Thiel conducted this interview.
BIO: SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DONALD BENNIS
Donald F. Bennis was appointed Wednesday to the School Board to fill
the unexpired term of Charles W. Vincent, who last month was convicted
of misdemeanor ethics charges and evicted from the board.
Bennis is a 43-year-old Beach attorney with his own practice,
handling mostly real estate, domestic relations, personal injury and
business relations law.
He has two children in the school system. Ryan, 11, and Courtney, 8,
attend John B. Dey Elementary.
Bennis is the product of a military family that moved around when he
was growing up. He graduated from Norview High School in Norfolk in
1969, before earning his bachelor's degree in business administration
from Old Dominion University in 1974.
He graduated from the College of William and Mary law school in
1979.
He is vice chairman of the city's Erosion Commission, which handles
beach replenishments and the dredging of Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets. He
is a member of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs
Committee, the John B. Dey PTA, the Princess Anne Bank Advisory Board,
the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association, the Virginia Beach Bar
Association and the Virginia State Bar.
He was appointed by Circuit Court judges to fill an at-large seat on
the School Board until a special election in May 1996.
His first task, he says, is to learn about the board and the issues
it faces.
``I need to roll up my sleeves and start doing my homework,'' he
said. ``I think I'm going to be spending a great amount of time over the
next few days and weeks reading and trying to get up to speed with the
other board members.''
- Elizabeth Thiel
ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
Donald F. Bennis, School Board member
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD PROFILE INTERVIEW BIOGRAPHY
by CNB