THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 5, 1995 TAG: 9505040137
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Elizabeth Thiel
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
School Board sniping
A sharp exchange between two School Board members Tuesday night revealed tensions previously kept from public view.
For months, board members have talked privately about divisiveness among them since the first board elections last May.
Tuesday's contention began when Ulysses Van Spiva asked Superintendent Sidney L. Faucette about the number of custodians who would work during the summer.
``I would hope that we could be assured, no matter what the staffing level is, one, that the buildings are going to be clean and, two, that we are not going to impose unfair work conditions on anyone. That's a major concern of mine.''
Faucette and school system Chief Operations Officer John Kalocay said they would make certain enough custodians were employed to keep buildings clean and to ensure that no custodian was overworked.
Spiva asked for a written report with details.
Board member Robert W. Hall objected to that request, saying that, in the past, there had to be a consensus of the board to require Faucette's staff to prepare special reports.
Besides, Hall said, Spiva's inquiries into staffing of custodians for summer fell outside the realm of policy-making, the role assigned to the board by state law.
``It looks more like micromanagement to me,'' Hall said.
Spiva responded that he believed the School Board's job was more than just attending meetings twice a month. The board, he said, must be concerned with everything that occurs in the school system.
Hall shot back: ``Where was your concern when the custodians in this building were getting the business from their supervisor? You were protecting the supervisor.''
School Board Chairwoman June T. Kernutt then gaveled the two back into their corners.
Tuition revisited
Board member Spiva raised concerns Tuesday that a $75 charge for summer band programs might prevent some students from attending.
The School Board voted in March to impose tuition on many summer school programs, saying resources were too tight to continue offering them for free. Spiva said he did not believe board members realized what charges they were approving.
Some board members took exception to that.
``I, as a School Board member, was fully aware of all of the tuition charges that we approved at the March 21st meeting,'' Susan L. Creamer said.
``None of us on the board said it didn't bother us,'' Joseph D. Taylor said. ``It bothers all of us.'' But the board has no choice in tight budget times, Taylor said.
Superintendent Faucette reiterated his intention to offer scholarships to poor students. by CNB