THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510200177
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Aleta Payne
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Cashing in on tests
The School Board voted to transfer $34,025 into an account that would allow it to finish reimbursing parents whose children scored a three or better on the Advanced Placement exam. The matter had come before the board earlier, but was deferred until Tuesday.
While board members said they supported the concept of repaying these parents and encouraging students, they were concerned about taking on an additional financial burden during tough budgetary times. Most of the current board members were not yet on the board when the decision was made.
Advanced Placement tests are rigorous examinations that allow students to earn college credit for what they have learned in high school. Some parents had already been paid for tests taken by their children last spring. Others, however, had not been reimbursed.
``I think if we made a promise to these parents, we need to honor that promise,'' said board member Donald F. Bennis. The board also voted to discontinue the reimbursement policy for the coming spring's tests but left open the possibility of resuming it if the division's financial picture improves.
Bus bashing
A committee of citizens, school bus drivers, city and school officials have come up with what they hope will be a solution to where the division's buses can park. Some citizens had complained about buses being parked on local streets or in neighborhoods. About 370 of the school system's buses are parked at the drivers' homes.
Based on the committee's recommendation, school buses can be parked on streets or in neighborhoods during the work day. Complaints about bus parking at night or on weekends will be considered on a case by case basis by the Transportation Services Department. Requests to remove a bus must be submitted in writing to the director of Transportation Services by a resident who lives close to where the bus is parked. The letter should include the bus number and reason for the request.
The committee plans to collect data about safety, security and other issues related to the policy starting in November. Members will analyze that information in February to decide whether the policy should remain in effect.
Audit debate
Several board members raised concerns about the expanded audit being conducted of the school division's books as part of the city's annual audit. At their last meeting, the board members had asked that internal auditor Victoria L. Lewis take their questions to the firm conducting the review of the books. Board members said they wanted to be sure they had answers to some of their concerns about the problems, which led up to the division's $7.4 million shortfall in the 1994-95 fiscal year.
Lewis brought back a report detailing which questions were likely to be answered in the investigation currently underway. Some board members, however, said that the scope of the audit appeared to be insufficient and that the city's questions appeared to have taken priority over the School Board's.
``In the past, we have asked questions and gotten folklore and fairy tales or incomplete answers,'' said board member Elsie M. Barnes. ``This time we want complete answers.''
Others said, however, they wanted to wait before deciding if more questions were needed. ``I, for one, would like to sit back and see what comes of the audit before I criticize it,'' said board member Robert Hall.
Some board members were clearly frustrated, prompting at least one sharp exchange between Barnes and board member Joseph D. Taylor as the almost seven-hour-long meeting wound to a close.
Interim Superintendent James L. Pughsley said there would be overlap between some of the questions raised by board members and the investigation already underway. He said the school administration would take the board's questions to the auditors directly.
Lots of applications
Chairwoman June T. Kernutt announced that the firm chosen by the School Board to search for a permanent replacement to former superintendent Sidney L. Faucette had received 39 applications. The board will meet with the search firm in a closed session Monday evening. by CNB