THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 21, 1995 TAG: 9509200139
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Residents on Saturday can learn the inside story on the city's public school system - where their tax dollars are spent, what their children are learning and how they can become involved.
Mayor Paul D. Fraim is hosting a citizens workshop on education as part of a community outreach program.
School Board members and top administrative officials, including Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr., will discuss the state of the city's public schools and field questions. Fraim also will be on hand.
``It's an opportunity to have an open dialogue between the general public and school officials,'' said School Board Chairman Ulysses Turner, who will co-host the forum. ``We are doing a lot of positive things in our school system that the public may not be aware of.''
The forum will be held 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at Ruffner Middle School, 489 Tidewater Drive.
Among the discussion topics: school facilities, budget building and capital improvements (such as air-conditioning the schools); what children are learning - more than the three R's; and how citizens can become involved in the schools. About 20 to 35 minutes have been set aside after each topic for questions.
Turner said school officials will present information showing that city schools are safe and offer challenging academic courses on every level.
``We believe there is more teaching and learning going on the classroom than in years past,'' Turner said.
The event is Fraim's third quarterly forum of the year. Education was chosen because citizens have identified it as one of their top interests, city officials said. The two previous workshops centered on code enforcement and public safety in neighborhoods.
KEYWORDS: PUBLIC FORUM by CNB