THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512160148
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Here's a look at some of the action taken at Thursday's School Board meeting:
More state aid, please
The School Board unanimously voted in favor of a resolution urging the state to change its school-funding formula so local districts can get more state dollars.
The board was only the latest to join the campaign, which is being led by the Virginia Education Association.
In recent decades, localities have picked up an increasingly larger share of the tab for public schools - often resulting in greater disparities between rich and poor school districts.
In the 1968-1970 biennium, the state earmarked about 51 percent of its general fund revenues for K-12 education. For the 1994-96 biennium, the portion will dip to an estimated 36 percent.
The General Assembly may consider the matter in the upcoming legislative session.
On character
The board, in response to a request from the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, also approved a resolution supporting ``character education.'' Character education programs, in place in several districts across the country, typically stress the teaching of basic values - such as honesty, responsibility and good citizenship.
The chamber is encouraging districts throughout the region to embrace such programs. Portsmouth is now investigating a character education program for its own use.
In other matters . . .
If Chairman J. Thomas Benn III and Leah Stith want to keep their seats, they must run for office next May, when the city's first School Board election is scheduled.
The terms of three board members expire in 1996: Vice Chairman James E. Bridgeford, Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr. and Louise G. ``Sis'' Walden. They also must run for office if they want to keep their seats.
But because state law says a majority of the board must be elected next year, two of three board members whose terms expire in 1997 must step down a year early. The three board members: Benn, Stith and Ray A. Smith Sr. When the city's Voter Registration Office conducted the random drawing this week, Smith was selected to remain on the board for the rest of his term.
Four board members will be elected in 1998.
The U.S. Justice Department has yet to sign off on the city's plan calling for at-large board elections. A department representative said the government probably would respond to the plan early next month.
Because Virginia has a history of voting-rights abuses, the Justice Department must approve City Council's plan for electing board members. In the past, Portsmouth board members were appointed at-large.
The department will determine whether the method of electing board members is fair to racial minorities. If it doesn't favor the city's plan, it can recommend changes. Ultimately, the department could push the city to change the way all public officials are elected.
Given the district's financial pinch, the board recently decided to have its annual winter retreat in P-Town, instead of spending the weekend in Williamsburg at Fort Magruder Inn. Staying home will save about $3,000. The board said it wanted to use that money to restore some of the dollars cut from school budgets and programs. The retreat is scheduled for late February. by CNB