THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509210173
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Aleta Payne
LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
Attendance policy passes new test
After a flurry of motions, substitute motions and amended motions, the School Board voted 6-to-5 Tuesday to keep the district's controversial attendance policy but to review the waiver process responsible for some parents' concerns.
Under the policy approved in June, students can fail a class, regardless of the grade they have earned, if they have excessive absences. Absences are counted even if the student had parental permission to miss school. The waiver process, which was developed and presented to the board after the policy was approved, allows families to appeal an attendance issue, ultimately to the superintendent.
Both supporters and critics of the rules say they support regular school attendance, but they disagree on how to encourage it.
Critics of the policy and waiver process say that students should not be punished by losing earned grades; parent-approved absences should not be held against students; the waiver policy is an invasion of family privacy; and it could be applied erratically.
Supporters say the policy prepares students for the real world and emphasizes the importance of school.
Parents have protested the policy at recent board meetings, and representatives of the Community Advisory Committee on Gifted Education and the Executive Board of the Virginia Beach Council of PTAs expressed concerns Tuesday. In addition, a petition with more than 450 names was presented to the board, signed by people who wanted the policy rescinded.
Larry A. Smith, who has formed an organization to oppose the policy, said the board decision to look at the waiver guidelines isn't enough to satisfy his group.
``The bottom line is you need to get rid of it (the policy),'' he said.
The regulations were developed by a committee of school personnel and parents. They are similar to those used at some of the division's high schools last year.
Board members indicated to Interim Superintendent James L. Pughsley that they wanted to look at waiver guidelines that made clear certain absences, such as those related to school activities, would not be held against a student.
Student and staff recognition
The board doled out a few pats on the back Tuesday.
Among the honorees were Nicole Moffett, Rupa Chakrabortty and Rachel Lindsey, all Kempsville High School students, who took first-place honors in the state debate tournament sponsored by the Virginia High School League.
Three members of the Thalia Elementary School staff also were recognized for helping save the life of a child who suffered seizures at school in June. Teacher Allison Zdelar, teacher assistant Dede Lopresti and substitute nurse Marjorie MacDonald were honored.
The board also recognized the team of fifth-grade students who represented Old Donation Center last year in the WordMasters Challenge. The group placed first in the nation in the competition, which encourages students to learn new and difficult words and then use them.
Classroom budget woes
The board heard Tuesday from Virginia Beach Education Association president Vickie J. Hendley about the effects teachers are feeling from budget tightening, including supplies arriving late, a drop in staff development activities and a reduction in field trips.
``The excitement of learning is rampant in the schools of Virginia Beach,'' she said. But she added: ``A budget deficit of this size does affect the classroom.''
More budget questions
Board members posed repeated questions about the interim financial statement for August, pointing to accounts that appeared to be overdrawn or close to the limit already.
Although budget officials offered explanations for the line items in question, Pughsley eventually asked the board to let staff members work with the report and bring it back at a later meeting for approval.
Board members also questioned the district's five-year budget projection, asking if revenue numbers were too optimistic, particularly federal impact aid. Overestimations of impact aid, which is given to districts serving a large number of military dependents, contributed substantially to the 1994-95 shortfall. The board was assured the budget is just a forecast and a starting point for discussions with the city.
`Appalled' by council remarks
Several School Board members had sharp words for city officials who they felt treated a school administrator poorly.
During a presentation on another matter before the City Council, Anthony L. Arnold, director of facilities planning and construction, was asked about plans for the new Corporate Landing Middle School.
Board members thought the design for the school was misrepresented by the council as lavish and unnecessarily expensive. The school, expected to open in 1997, is budgeted at $21.5 million.
``I am appalled at City Council looking at our schools and saying we're building monuments. It's terrible,'' board member Robert W. Hall said.
Board members said efforts had been made to minimize costs, including scaling down existing plans for another school, while meeting the needs of students.
The board directed Chairwoman June T. Kernutt to draft a letter to city officials expressing their concerns over the way the matter was handled.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOLS by CNB