THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602230187
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: COMPILED BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
Three of the School Board's seven seats will be up for election on May 7, marking the city's second School Board election.
Following are the answers to several commonly asked questions:
Q. Why are voters electing School Board members?
A. In a 1992 referendum, city voters approved the switch from an appointed to an elected School Board. In the past, City Council members appointed local residents to the board.
Virginia became the last state to give voters the power to elect board members.
Residents in every South Hampton Roads city except Norfolk have switched from appointed to elected boards.
Q. What does the board do?
A. Generally speaking, the board:
Develops policies that guide the school district.
Evaluates trends and needs of the district.
Approves curricula - which are blueprints of what will be taught.
Helps develop a school district budget.
Employs, directs and evaluates the superintendent of schools.
Q. Why should residents care about the School Board election?
What the board does affects parts of daily life, impacting everything from learning conditions to the city's ability to attract new families and businesses to Suffolk.
Tax dollars also are involved: The city's 1995-96 contribution to local schools accounts for 27 percent of the district's $51.5 million budget.
Q. Whose seats will be up for grabs?
A. The following board members would have to run for office in order to keep their seats: Board Chairman Arthur D. Smith of the Nansemond Borough; the Rev. Mark A. Croston of Whaleyville, vice chairman; and Clarice C. Johnson of Sleepy Hole.
Both Smith and Croston have said they would run. Johnson said she would not.
John R. Riddick also said he intends to seek the Nansemond Borough seat.
The other four board seats will be up for election in 1998.
Q. Who can run for the School Board?
A. To run, you must be:
At least 18 by the May 1996 election.
A registered voter. (Felons or persons ever deemed mentally incompetent by a court are forbidden to run.)
A U.S. citizen.
At least a one-year Virginia resident by Election Day.
A Suffolk resident.
Q. What's going on in the school district these days?
A. Academic achievement - More city students are earning advanced diplomas and taking college-level courses, according to the latest annual report card from the state.
But the report card, which covers the 1990-91 to 1993-94 school years, also showed that much still plagues the district: The percentage of fourth-graders who have flunked at least one grade is still among the highest in the state, for example. Low standardized test scores have barely budged.
Growth - Compared with last school year, the district's enrollment is up nearly 5 percent, or by about 500 kids - one of the biggest increases in years. Enrollment growth isn't expected to ease up anytime soon.
A new elementary school, Northern Shores, will open by September in the Harbour View area.
Q. Where can I get more information if I choose to run for a board seat?
A. The state Board of Elections has a how-to guide. Call 1-800-552-9745 to request one. The state board also provides the forms candidates are required to complete and file.
Q. When is the filing deadline?
A. 7 p.m. March 5; local voter registrar's office, 434 W. Washington St.
Q. Must I file petitions supporting my candidacy?
A. Yes. And the petitions must have at least 125 signatures from qualified city voters. The voter registrar's office will match the signatures against the city's list of registered voters.
Q. Who may circulate a candidate's petitions?
A. A candidate may circulate his or her own petitions. A Suffolk registered voter also may circulate a candidate's petitions.
Q. Can a political party endorse a board candidate?
A. Yes.
Q. Are city voters stuck with an elected board?
A. No. Voters can hold a referendum to switch from an elected board to an appointed board. ILLUSTRATION: Left to right, the Rev. Mark A. Croston, Clarice C. Johnson and
Arthur D. Smith hold seats on the School Board, but their terms
expire this year.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK SCHOOL BOARD by CNB