THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 16, 1995 TAG: 9505160284
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
School Board Chairwoman June T. Kernutt canceled a special board meeting that had been scheduled for Monday night to persuade Superintendent Sidney L. Faucette to stay at the helm of the Virginia Beach schools.
Kernutt said she and Faucette decided that the meeting, at which discussions about Faucette's salary and the board's support for his leadership were expected to arise, was not needed because Faucette knew he had the support of the board.
But other board members said not all favored taking steps to keep Faucette from accepting an offer to lead the school system in Gwinnett County, Ga.
``I think he should take that other job, because I think this will be a good opportunity for him down there,'' said board member Ulysses Van Spiva, who has been critical of some of Faucette's decisions. ``We've got a number of problems here with the budget, and we've got to get those cleaned up, and we've got some morale problems we've got to take care of'' among school system employees.
``This might be an opportunity for both of us to get the job done that we need to get done.''
Kernutt said Faucette has promised to make a decision by today about whether he will accept the job offer. Faucette did not return calls Monday seeking comment.
Faucette has said he might decide to stay if the board guaranteed his job security and affirmed its support for his educational and administrative policies.
He has said that salary is not an issue for him, although he would get a substantial raise by going to Georgia. He now is paid a base salary of $120,000 a year; Gwinnett County is offering between $135,000 and $150,000.
``To be quite honest, Dr. Faucette said he knew the support that he had on the board, and he did not feel that he wanted to put the School Board in the position of amending his contract,'' Kernutt said. ``And out of respect for the board, he asked that we not meet to consider that.''
Meanwhile, in anticipation of the planned meeting Monday night, PTA leaders citywide spent the day phoning board members in support of Faucette. Critics said PTA presidents should not take a stand without consulting their members.
But Dianne O. Florence, president of the citywide Council of PTAs, said the presidents were encouraged to contact the board with their views as individuals, not on behalf of their PTAs.
``We told them that the meeting was coming up, and we told them that if they were in support of Dr. Faucette, now was the time to express it,'' Florence said.
Florence said she was concerned about the short tenure of superintendents in Virginia Beach. Faucette, who has led Beach schools since 1991, is the fourth superintendent in six years.
``That concerns me, as a parent,'' she said. ``We need stability. We need direction. In order to obtain that, we need to let our School Board members know how we feel. And I would encourage any parent, any teacher in this school system to do that.''
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD by CNB