THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190210
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
C. Fred Bateman, if nothing else, is a man you can trust. He listens, and he respects people's opinions.
And, said the city leaders who honored Bateman at a luncheon Thursday, he is a great educator.
Entitled ``Thanks for the Memories,'' the luncheon was one of several farewells planned for Bateman, who will retire this summer after 15 years leading city schools. Bateman will join the faculty of Old Dominion University, lending his vast knowledge and experience to others who aspire to be educators.
``We're lucky we had him,'' said W.A. ``Al'' Spradlin, a former School Board chairman. ``It's a shame to see him leave. But he's going on to bigger and better things.''
Luncheon participants, many of whom are long-time friends and colleagues of Bateman, had some comical things to say about him.
``He's not very funny,'' Spradlin said. Bateman is known for his intellect, his deliberate way of speaking and his dry wit.
``One of the things he did was, he made me appear a lot more funny than I am,'' Spradlin said.
Deputy Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols, who will take over as superintendent when Bateman leaves, showed some old pictures of himself and Bateman with early 1980s hairdos.
Bateman came to Chesapeake 19 years ago as assistant superintendent for finance and business affairs. Within a year, he was named deputy superintendent, and in 1980, the board chose him for superintendent from among a field of 15 candidates. He made $42,500 then, he makes just over $114,000 now.
His salary isn't the only thing that has changed, however. Bateman has presided over a period of meteoric growth. The school system had fewer than 24,000 students in 1980, now there are more than 33,000.
He has upgraded and constructed buildings to handle the growth. He has made it a priority to hire women and minorities, particularly for leadership positions. He has recruited teachers from the top of the classes at Virginia and North Carolina colleges.
He promoted community and parent involvement in the school system. The group convened for Thursday's luncheon, for example, was an advisory committee that was formed 30 years ago, but expanded under Bateman's leadership. The group meets every month to give Bateman advice on educational issues.
``This guy has communicated with us,'' said Ron McArthur, one of the senior members of the group. ``He has let us in on the ground floor'' of many issues.
``He was always at the leading edge and the root of every movement for the betterment of our school system,'' said W.A. Johnson, a former assistant superintendent. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
The Rev. Paul Moore, left, and W.A. Johnson wish School
Superintendent C. Fred Bateman well. Bateman will retire this
summer.
by CNB