THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 25, 1996 TAG: 9601240160
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Norfolk Public Schools will remain closed on Memorial Day instead of being open to make up for time lost during the recent snowstorm, the School Board said last week.
Inclement weather forced the district to cancel school on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9. Those days will be made up on Monday, Jan. 29, previously set aside as a day off for students but a day for teachers to handle record-keeping duties; and Feb. 19, Presidents Day.
Students will be dismissed early on Monday so teachers can spend the afternoon reviewing records.
A furor was touched off when Superintendent Roy D. Nichols previously announced that Memorial Day, May 27, would be one of two days used to make up for the canceled classes.
The prospect of having school on Memorial Day, when the nation remembers military veterans who died in battle, angered parents and others.
Nichols decided to seek advice from the board.
If more snow causes schools to close again, Nichols said the days would be made up by having classes for a half day on March 29, another record-keeping day for teachers; or for half days on Saturdays. Image work
The administration gave the board its ``action plan'' last week to improve the school district's image.
The plan - which the administration has yet to stick a price tag on - is the outgrowth of recommendations from a committee of city residents, district workers and board members.
Among other measures, the plan calls for:
Employee training in ``good public relations.''
The creation of a speakers bureau of employees who would share school news with community groups.
Hiring a graphic artist to create a ``standardized, corporate look'' for district publications, mailings and ads.
Selecting one person to concentrate on spreading good news about city schools.
One of the key goals of the public relations campaign is to urge more citizens and city leaders to play a bigger role in public education.
The administration soon will give board members cost estimates for all of the proposals, School Board Clerk George Raiss said.
If the board signs on - and earmarks the necessary dollars in the 1996-97 operating budget - the measures will all be in place by September.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK SCHOOL BOARD NORFOLK SCHOOLS by CNB