THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509020153
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Here's a look at some of the action from Thursday's School Board meeting:
Parent contract
Portsmouth will ask parents to sign a contract this school year, pledging to assist school officials in disciplining their children and maintaining order.
Parents who refuse to work with school officials in efforts to discipline disruptive students could face up to $500 in fines. Parents could be fined $50 for failure to sign the contract. Fines would be imposed by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court at the district's request.
The General Assembly approved the measure earlier this year. The board unanimously approved the local contract on Thursday.
Contracts will be sent home with students on Tuesday.
Eye on the money
The board unanimously approved two measures designed to prevent the kind of crisis now plaguing Virginia Beach: That district ran up at least a $7.4 million deficit last year by spending money it didn't have, overestimating how much it would get and carrying over debts from the previous year.
The measures, introduced by board member Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr., direct Superintendent Richard D. Trumble to have an independent auditor find out what safeguards are in place to prevent overspending; and to develop ``a simple summary'' of the monthly financial report.
The board wants the auditor's safeguards report by Oct. 31; and the revamped monthly summaries beginning with the October financial report.
Principal reassignments
Trumble announced Thursday the final principal reassignments for the upcoming year.
Margarette Bartlett was moved from Churchland Academy to Hodges Manor Elementary. Betty Bartlett had been moved from Hodges Manor to Churchland Elementary. Former Churchland Elementary Principal Sheila Hill took a job in Newport News. Rosa Wells-Garris was reassigned from her job as an assistant principal at Woodrow Wilson High to principal at William E. Waters Middle. Edgar Morgan, the former Waters principal, was moved to Cradock Middle when former Cradock Principal Patricia Fisher was promoted to the central office.
No H-B studio
The board opposed a plan to convert a Highland-Biltmore Elementary classroom into a dance studio. Seven board members voted against the idea. Board member Louise G. Walden was absent because of illness. The Rev. Charles H. Bowens II abstained. His son, Charles H. Bowens, is Highland-Biltmore's principal. The school's performing arts program kicks off this year.
The board postponed the decision in May after several members complained about the financing. The administration had planned to pay for the work by transferring about $16,000 from the district's maintenance budget.
Principal Bowens said the school would seek private donations for the work. The program will continue, he said.
Board members said the district simply couldn't afford the project.
Administrative reassignments
The board signed off on Trumble's decision to promote Sidney J. Duck III from operational services director to assistant superintendent for administrative services; Viola G. Morgan from director of instruction to assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction; and Patricia Fisher from Cradock Middle principal to director of instruction.
Science specialist Mary Ann Ward now has additional duties as a curriculum coordinator. The moves were part of Trumble's central office reorganization.
Trumble tapped Wilbert D. Hawkins, who had overseen the personnel department, to be deputy superintendent. That move was postponed Thursday after activist Frank Thomson questioned why the deputy position wasn't listed in the district's pay and classification plan.
Hawkins said the position was omitted from the plan because it's been vacant for several years. School Board Attorney George Willson urged the board to delay Hawkins' promotion until the issue had been addressed. Trumble said he would correct the plan to reflect the change.
School calendar change
Students won't have to report to school next Friday, when the district will celebrate the U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award it won this spring. A parade will travel from Washington Street to Crawford Parkway. Guests include Sens. Charles S. Robb and John W. Warner. by CNB