THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507120135
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
At his last board meeting as superintendent of the Chesapeake schools, C. Fred Bateman was recognized Monday night with a resolution citing his ``outstanding and dedicated service'' to the people of Chesapeake and for the ``distinction and honor'' with which he has served.
Bateman is retiring after a 19-year career with the city's schools, 15 of them as superintendent. His last day in the office is July 31.
For his part, Bateman bid a touching farewell to the board, recognizing members individually for what they have brought to the school system and what they have meant to him.
``The opportunity has been a wonderful one. The privilege has been mine, the pleasure has been mine,'' he said. ``I feel that I have gained more than I have given.''
Bateman and his wife will continue to live in the area and plan to remain active in the community. He will become distinguished educator in residence at Old Dominion University in the fall.
Also at Monday's meeting, the board was presented with the proposed boundaries for the new elementary school on Cedar Road. The school will relieve tremendous growth in the Great Bridge Middle School attendance area, which has gained more than half the new students in the city's schools over the past five years.
That increase, about 3,000 students, has resulted in 10 portable classrooms at Great Bridge Primary School and eight at Great Bridge Intermediate with more in the coming school year.
The proposed boundaries for the new school, scheduled to open in 1996, would encompass the westernmost corner of the current Great Bridge Primary and Intermediate boundaries, including the areas along Bells Mill Road, north of Cedar Road and following Waters Road south of Cedar to the southern end of Washington Drive.
Great Bridge Primary and Intermediate will take on a portion of the Southeastern Elementary zone between Waters Road and Draughon Road. And, all of the students in the area bounded by Battlefield Boulevard and Great Bridge Bypass, including those who now attend Southeastern or Butts Road Primary and Intermediate schools, would attend Great Bridge Primary and Intermediate.
The new boundaries align with the high school attendance zones so, in large part, students will remain together as they head on to either Great Bridge or Hickory high schools.
Board members asked that copies of the attendance zone proposal be available at the affected schools and at public libraries. Public hearings on the boundaries are scheduled for the Aug. 14 and Sept. 11 board meetings.
In other action, board chairman Maury Brickhouse and vice chairman Barbara Head were unanimously re-elected to those posts. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
C. Fred Bateman's last day as Chesapeake's superintendent of schools
is July 31.
by CNB