THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503250087
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY: 3 NEW LEADERS
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
Q. Why were you interested in being on the School Board?
A. As a parent, with two children in the system, I'm very interested in the educational opportunities afforded our young people. I have been involved in a variety of volunteer activities with the school system, and I would like now to make a more meaningful contribution.
Q. What do you think is the most pressing issue facing city schools right now?
A. As a new member, it would be inappropriate to describe any issue as more pressing or more important than any other. However, I am cognizant of the budgetary constraints and different financial issues. Also, as a parent, I am alarmed at the incidence of drugs and weapons in our communities and schools.
Q. What will you do as a School Board member to address that issue?
A. I need to familiarize myself with as much factual information as possible, and then identify the options that are available to us (the School Board). I don't want to speak out at this point on something that I'm not knowledgeable about. I really do need to familiarize myself with this information.
Q. What's the thing that city schools do best right now, in your opinion?
A. The system is much broader-based and more diversified than when I was a student. We have excellent programs for a broad spectrum of young people who have various needs. The students are challenged with a wider variety of courses than the core curriculum that was offered when I was a student. All of these programs and classes help to meet the needs and interests of the student population.
I can only relate right now to some of the courses I've seen my children take. My son is a senior at Cox and is taking advanced composition right now. It's been probably the most effective class for him. They have a wide spectrum of things that they cover. I think the class is made up of seniors. They were interested in having an open lunch policy for seniors, so that the seniors could leave school at lunchtime. They knew that this would be a real challenge to present to the school. But they got it through the faculty at Cox, and they presented it to the School Board last month. There was a great learning experience involved in that. It's not a core class, but it certainly has been a very good class as far as giving them other skills and learning processes and how things work in the real world, if they were going to meet a challenge in the business world.
I'm looking at it as the experience I've had as a parent, and I think that when I was in school, we had the core curriculum. We didn't even have sociology and psychology and some of the other courses that are offered now. Students now have other courses, like the advanced composition and other things. They work with test taking, and things that they're going to use and that they'll need when they go out into the working world. So I see a number of different opportunities for students who have different interests. . .
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 that the School Board is a policy-making body, and we should not attempt to micromanage. The administration should supervise the students and teachers, but the School Board should set policy.
Q. Will you run for election in May 1996, when your seat will go on the ballot?
A. That's not my goal. My goal is to become knowledgeable as quickly as possible, and to make a significant contribution to the board and to the system. I'm not in a position to rule it in or out. MEMO: Staff writer Elizabeth Thiel conducted this interview.
BIO: SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER KAREN O'BRIEN
Karen O. O'Brien was appointed to the School Board last week to fill
the unexpired term of James R. Darden, who resigned in January due to
family medical problems.
O'Brien, 48, is a Realtor and wife of former state legislator William
R. ``Buster'' O'Brien.
She has three children who are either in the school system or
graduated from it: William H. ``Happy'' O'Brien, 20, a junior in
college; Patrick R. O'Brien, 17, a senior at Cox High; and Erin L.
O'Brien, 14, a ninth-grader at Cox.
O'Brien has spent most of her life in Virginia Beach.
She graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1968 with a
bachelor's degree in art history.
She now works for Rose & Krueth Realty.
She has been involved with PTAs and booster clubs at her children's
schools, with the Neptune Festival, Seton House, the Junior League of
Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Contact Tidewater Inc. and Children's Hospital
of The King's Daughters.
O'Brien was appointed by circuit judges to fill the Lynnhaven borough
seat until May 1996, when a special election will be held.
She expects her personal experience with children in the school
system to be her greatest asset as a board member.
``I don't come with a preconceived notion,'' she said. ``I come with
what I know. And I'll have an opportunity to learn the overall spectrum,
and to bring with it what I've seen as a parent.''
- Elizabeth Thiel
ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
Karen O. O'Brien, School Board member
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD PROFILE INTERVIEW BIOGRAPHY
by CNB