THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512070134
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 160 lines
I have read with much interest the articles exposing and reporting the $12 million budget deficit in the Virginia Beach school system. I am dismayed that it took Aleta Payne, Beth Barber and other staff members of the Beacon to expose this issue - another Watergate!
It is very clear to me that the members of the Virginia Beach School Board have tried to sweep this fiasco under the rug. The chairperson of the board, elected by the people, should have served the people by providing detailed reports to the community. Except for the new members, Donald Bennis and Karen O'Brien, they were well aware of the financial difficulties as far back as 1994. I believe the board members cannot be trusted to do their jobs. And the citizens of this beautiful city will have to pay off the deficit.
Furthermore, I just don't understand why the citizens have not run the members off the board. I am ashamed of the citizens for not demanding action. I commend Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Humphreys for pursing the accountabil-i-ty issue with a special grand jury. My recommendation is that all members of the board, except for the new members, should submit their resignations and the court appoint people who are willing to do the job.
My hat is off to The Virginian-Pilot and The Beacon for a superb job in reporting the budget deficit issue.
Frank Greco
Virginia Beach Complacency ahead on school finance fiasco
Most citizens of Virginia Beach are aware of the School Board fiasco and the illegal deficit. There are laws that cover such misconduct of officials. Anyone involved with such a travesty should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, even if it means dragging former superintendent Faucette back here to face the grand-jury probe and formal charges. But it will not happen.
Oh, the questions will be asked and fingers will be pointed. But in the end City Council will vote to raise our taxes to pay for the bail-out and all will be forgotten. It is the same problem that exists elsewhere. Once they assume office, people become complacent about their responsibilities. The longer in office, the more complacent they become.
A prime example is the mayor of Virginia Beach. Eighteen months ago I brought it to her attention in person that there was waste, destruction of school property and misuse of taxpayer money. I was informed that the matter would get looked into. Evidently, such was not the case. Now Virginia Beach has a real mess on its hands. Could it have been prevented? Possibly.
I got a hint as to how the mayor thinks of the taxpayers of Virginia Beach. In an article in the Beacon we were referred to as ``customers'' of the city. Not so. Madame Mayor works for us. That makes us her boss. And if we are not happy with her work, it will be time for a pink slip. Complacency does not have to be a way of life for a public servant.
Nathan D. Rohr
Virginia Beach School finances set students a poor example
Recent developments concerning the $7.5, now $12.1 million school budget shortfall have me gravely concerned. The more I hear the school administration and School Board officials offer excuses, the more incensed I become. It does not bode well for my opinion of the competence of these people.
I find it amazing that so many people with so much education cannot accurately perform simple math functions. What is worse, several School Board members have been heard to say that they want City Council to keep out of their affairs. It is abundantly clear to me that School Board members are not in control of their charge and are in dire need of leadership. The School Board and the school administration should be carefully scrutinized, investigated and held accountable.
I maintain that someone was very well aware of what was going on with the school district's finances. They knowingly kept City Council and the public in the dark until it was too late. Now, people who were elected to represent the citizens in the education of our students claim that they were unaware of the problem. The result of their lack of awareness was $12.1 million of red ink, a city bailout, budget cuts in other city departments, hiring freezes, increased taxes, reduced services to students, no pay raises for teachers, policemen and other city employees, and countless other ramifications.
A certain individual is now out of state, enjoying a six-figure job and not being held accountable. Tell me, what is wrong with this picture? People who did not do anything wrong are all being made to pay for the arrogant disregard of authority, law and the public trust by people who knew better.
I doubt that any of those involved thought they had an obligation to anyone but themselves. Perhaps the school administration and the School Board should be given remedial education on fiduciary responsibility.
The dismay is even being felt by the students whom these individuals were hired or elected to serve. In recent conversations, Salem High School students indicated a feeling that they were let down by the officials in school administration. I am sure that these reflections are shared by other young people (who will be voters in the near future).
What message do we want our young people to receive? That their elected and appointed officials are acting in their best interests? Or that the adult population cares not about the children, just about making a buck and shifting the blame and expense to others? Do we want our young people to take responsibility and respect the law, or turn their collective backs? These children are our future and deserve responsible leadership. If we don't do something now, then when?
So where does the buck stop? So far, nowhere but the taxpayers' pockets.
I am not suggesting a ``witch hunt,'' just a thorough investigation where those responsible are held accountable.
The citizens of Virginia Beach, young and old, deserve answers, not mindless finger-pointing and shoulder shrugs. This money did not all go to education. It was lost in a financing scheme that I would suspect to be considered illegal in the private sector. Something must be done.
Daniel A. Baxter
Virginia Beach Boardwalk lights: poor use of taxes and police
I am writing to complain about those tasteless holiday lights the city has erected close to and on the Boardwalk. I can't believe our tax dollars are being wasted on these tacky, garish lights. The ones on street corners near the Boardwalk look like they belong in a casino. Is this the city's way of voicing support for casino gambling?
Don't we have an existing $12 million deficit in the school system? Why are we wasting precious city funds on a trashy light show and diverting police from more important things?
One Saturday night while I went for my stroll on the Boardwalk, I was asked by the police to get off the Boardwalk because of the cars driving there. It seems to me that the grinch had already stolen Christmas and it wasn't even Advent yet.
I strenuously object to allowing cars driving up and down the Boardwalk even if you do charge them money. The name implies that it is for walking. We already have a hard enough time keeping cars off it. Don't encourage them.
Furthermore, if the city government wishes to increase its revenues, it would do well to follow the example of Queen Elizabeth I of Great Britain, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of West Germany, President John F. Kennedy and President Ronald Reagan. All of these individuals increased tax revenues by lowering taxes, which is what the city should do instead of promoting tacky tourist promotions like this one.
Christine Ross
Virginia Beach Drivers, not road, at fault
While I have sympathy for the families of those (nearly) 60 people who have died on the northeast section of Shore Drive since 1977, I'm sick and tired of certain people trying to blame the road itself. That portion of Shore Drive is relatively straight and can be negotiated, without incident, at posted speed limits and without impairment due to alcohol (the major causes of the accidents along the roadway).
Stop conducting ``cosmetic'' public hearings on how to make the road safe. It isn't the road; it's the unsafe driver behind the wheel who is, quite simply, at fault. Hopefully, people will one day assume responsibility for their own actions.
John O. Parmele Jr.
Virginia Beach Batteries left behind
Thank you for the cover story concerning SPSA's curbside recycling program. Perhaps the story and listed ``recycling rules'' will clear up apparent misunderstandings between SPSA and some of its drivers.
Several times this year I have attempted to recycle dry-cell flashlight and radio batteries by putting them in my blue bin with other recyclable material. Repeatedly, the batteries were not taken.
George Wolf
Virginia Beach by CNB