THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 9, 1995 TAG: 9509090270
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
School officials often speak of the district as though it were an ugly duckling: broke and demoralized yet constantly under pressure to perform.
On Friday, they described it as a swan.
The district rang in the new school year with a parade and special program to celebrate a statewide quality-management award it won last spring. In the words of school board Chairman J. Thomas Benn III, it was an honor that boosted the city's ``collective self-esteem.''
``We have earned it and we deserve it,'' Benn told parents, students, staffers, military representatives and other onlookers at Veterans Riverfront Park, shortly after the marching bands and floats made their way from Washington Street to Crawford Parkway.
It was time, he said, to recognize something positive in P-Town.
Superintendent Richard D. Trumble said the award was proof that the district can pull off a noteworthy feat.
``Outsiders see us as a can-do district,'' he said, referring to an independent evaluating team that sized up Portsmouth's improvement initiatives. ``This event should crystallize that for all of our employees.''
Among the guests was state Superintendent of Public Instruction William C. Bosher Jr. U.S. Sens. Charles S. Robb and John W. Warner were tied up at the office, although Robb caught a helicopter from Washington and made it to the local reception.
Darrell Rodgers, a parent and worker in the city's Public Utilities Department, checked out the parade during his lunch hour.
``My wife and my son told me about it,'' he said. ``I think this is all really positive. I think it makes the district look good and gives them a reason to keep working hard.''
Earlier this year, Portsmouth was one of five statewide winners of a U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award for Virginia. The annual award recognizes efforts to become more efficient and responsive to citizens. Portsmouth also was a finalist in 1992 and 1993.
Last year, 135 school districts across the country were using the Total Quality Management approach in some form, according to the American Society for Quality Control. W. Edwards Deming, the late management pioneer, spearheaded the philosophy.
In public education, it has turned students and parents into ``customers.'' Teachers and principals are seen as managers who can help solve problems instead of swallowing orders from above. Employees are encouraged to work in teams and to evaluate whether their methods lead to improvement.
Portsmouth turned to the approach five years ago. The efforts have taken many shapes. Among them: A variety of ``action'' teams formed to help the district meet goals outlined in its strategic plan. Hundreds of employees have had quality-management training.
Some results have been heartening, Trumble said.
The state's latest report card for city schools showed that Portsmouth is doing a better job preparing students for college, for example. The district's dropout rate is one of the region's lowest.
Gray clouds hovered Friday, but at least a thousand residents took time to join in the festivities - paid for with donations from the Portsmouth General and Maryview hospital foundations, local businesses and private individuals.
The board gave students the day off. Many of them marched, skipped or cheered their way through the parade; others stepped with school bands. Teachers and principals cruised on homemade floats or donned school mascot outfits.
``If nothing else, I think this will all help morale,'' said teacher Carolyn Smith, president of the Portsmouth Education Association.
In his remarks, Bosher reminded educators of the bottom line. ``Quality is only there,'' he said, ``if you have (improved) performance of the young people being served.'' ILLUSTRATION: GARY C. KNAPP photo
The parade to celebrate the quality-management award won last spring
gets under way at Washington and Crawford streets.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOLS AWARD by CNB