THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503300652
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
IN RESPONSE to parents' complaints, the School Board has approved a new busing schedule for 1995-96 that will allow elementary schools to begin classes at least 30 minutes earlier than this year.
In a last-minute addition to next year's budget, the board last week voted to spend $241,000 to buy three buses and hire 13 bus drivers to run the schedule.
``I think the investment is worth it,'' School Board Chairman Ulysses Turner said. ``I think we've had enough concerns and complaints from parents'' about the current busing schedule.
With more buses and drivers, the school system will be able to operate on three rotating bus runs. That will end a controversial fourth run - called a ``stagger'' - that parents of elementary kids don't like.
Some kids now start school after 9:30 a.m. and leave at nearly 4 p.m. Kids who attend schools near Norfolk Naval Base are dismissed at rush hour on Hampton Boulevard and often get home after dark in the winter. Parents said that was unsafe for children.
Four runs created other problems: Kids lose much of their energy by mid-morning, field trips have to be cut short and teachers often are inconvenienced because they don't have enough time for personal business after school.
With three bus runs, the latest that elementary kids would start school is 9:05 a.m., school officials said. They would be out no later than 3:25 p.m. Kids who have to contend with Hampton Boulevard will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m.
Dale Williamson, the schools' transportation director, outlined the proposal for the board. Beginning in 1996-97, the board will have to begin replacing another 11 buses, at about $41,000 a bus. Williamson said the total cost of shifting to three bus runs will be $694,790.
The school system now has a fleet of 154 buses that each average about 65 miles of driving every day. Some buses put in 120 miles a day.
Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. said the $241,000 needed to add the buses and drivers for next school year will be transferred from a textbook reserve fund that had been earmarked for new science and reading textbooks.
Nichols said the book purchases have been delayed because the state Board of Education is in the process of revising ``standards of learning'' that outline what kids should learn in four core subjects, including science and language arts. Without knowing what the standards will be, it would be unwise to buy new textbooks that might not be adequate, he said.
At last week's meeting, Nichols announced a few changes from the administration's proposed 1995-1996 budget. A community information initiative he had proposed to improve the school system's public image has been whittled to $40,000 from $175,000.
The Education Association of Norfolk criticized the expenditure as unnecessary and extravagant. Nichols said the other $135,000 will be shifted to a program for kids considered at risk of failing or dropping out.
Also, classified employees, including secretaries, custodians and teachers' aides, are breathing easier after learning that the administration dropped plans this year to expand their pay scale to 22 steps from 10.
A coalition of classified employees with the Norfolk Federation of Teachers turned out in force at a public hearing earlier this month to protest the change, saying it would cut their earning potential. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
SCHOOLS AFFECTED
The School Board last week voted to eliminate the controversial
fourth busing ``stagger'' for elementary schools next school year.
This is a list of elementary schools that will be affected:
First stagger: School begins at 7:50 a.m., ends at 2:10 -
Willard.
Second stagger: School begins at 8:25 a.m., ends at 2:45 p.m. -
Norview, Ingleside, Larchmont, Oakwood, Poplar Halls, W.H. Taylor.
Third stagger: School begins at 9:05 a.m., ends at 3:25 p.m. -
Camp Allen, Chesterfield, Coleman Place, Larrymore, Lindenwood,
Little Creek, Ocean View, Suburban Park, Tarrallton.
by CNB