THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080697
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Faced with veteran teachers bailing out for better-paying jobs, a shortage of basic instructional supplies and buildings in ill repair, school and PTA officials in Norfolk and Portsmouth pleaded with state legislators Thursday for more money.
``Our PTAs are raising thousands of dollars every year simply to put basics in the school,'' Portsmouth PTA Council President Lucy Thompson told four legislators who represent the two cities. ``We're not supposed to have to raise money for what the federal and state and local governments should do.''
Thompson said children in one elementary classroom had to be evacuated during Thursday's rain because of a leaking roof.
For the first time, said Portsmouth Superintendent Richard Trumble, the district is losing veteran teachers with 15 and more years of experience because of money woes. With a loss of up to $1.8 million in federal funds projected, Trumble said more state aid is essential for pay raises, building maintenance, textbooks and transportation.
``This is not something we need for riding into the future, it's for shoveling out the tide of despair that overwhelms us,'' Trumble said.
Ulysses Turner, chairman of the Norfolk School Board, said schools are bearing extra costs for the social and parental roles they must play. He called for more money for alternative education programs, noting that the city had space for only 400 of the 1,000-plus kids expelled or placed on long-term suspension last year.
``If we're going to continue to rescue these children we're going to need additional funding,'' Turner said.
Across the commonwealth, similar pleas are being raised. When the General Assembly convenes in January, legislators will set funding priorities through 1998.
Local legislators attending Thursday's forum at Portsmouth's 1846 Courthouse Museum pledged support, but acknowledged a tight fiscal climate.
``Everybody wants what's best for the children, but there needs to be a realistic assessment of the cash,'' said Del. Kenneth Melvin, D-Portsmouth. Two ``tremendous hits,'' Melvin said, will be a payout to federal retirees and the Allen administration's prison-building plans.
At the same time, Melvin said, a way must be found to increase education funding.
``We know it has to be delivered, we've promised it and it will be done,'' Melvin said.
Delegate-elect Thelma Drake, R-Norfolk, who defeated Democrat Del. Howard Copeland in the Nov. 7 election, said Gov. George F. Allen will make education a priority. Allen announced Wednesday plans to push a $100-million initiative for a computer network linking public schools and colleges.
``I think we have a wonderful opportunity in the General Assembly this year to put politics aside and work for what's best for children in Virginia,'' Drake said.
Amy Rhodes, legislative chairwoman of Norfolk's PTA Council, also called for ``common ground for a common cause - our children.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRIORITIES
A few of the legislative priorities for Norfolk and Portsmouth
schools in the General Assembly session, which begins in January:
Money: Asking for more state aid for basic instructional
supplies, teacher pay raises, building maintenance, textbooks,
transportation and alternative programs. Equity among school
districts is a big issue. Portsmouth supports an increase of
1/2-percent in the sales tax to fund schools.
Charter schools: Norfolk and Portsmouth oppose them unless all
students are guaranteed equal access, they don't lead to racial or
social segregation and they don't take resources from other
schools.
School safety: Norfolk supports legislation to ban the sale of
``look-a-like'' BB and pellet guns to minors.
Guidance and counseling and family life education: Norfolk and
Portsmouth support current ``opt out'' system, whereby children
receive the services unless their parents specifically request that
they be excluded.
Academic standards: Norfolk opposes legislation that would
convert the state Standards of Learning from guidelines into
regulations because it would limit local flexibility. The SOLs spell
out what children in each grade should learn in math, science,
social studies and English.
Teacher tenure: Portsmouth favors legislation to end the current
system of continuing contracts for teachers in favor of term
contracts.
by CNB