THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603010190
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Many people interested in the city's first School Board election on May 7 have picked up the necessary paperwork to become candidates and are collecting signatures on petitions.
But it's unclear how many will actually run.
Dr. Elizabeth Daniels, a local dentist, was the first person to file for the board election this past week. By late Thursday, two others had filed all or most of their documentation: Jesse G. Alspaugh Jr., a retired businessman and volunteer at John Tyler Elementary; and Vick Goodman, a retired administrator for the local Health Department.
The filing deadline is 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Voter Registrar's Office on Crawford Street.
The terms of five board members expire this year: Chairman J. Thomas Benn III, who said he would run for the City Council; Leah Stith, who recently said she had not made a decision about running; and Vice Chairman James Bridgeford, Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr. and Louise G. ``Sis'' Walden - all of whom are planning to run for their seats.
J. Thomas Benn III,
Board chairman
Time on board: Since 1990
Status: Won't run
James Bridgeford,
Vice chairman
Time on board: Since 1990
Status: Will run
Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr.
Time on board: Since 1993
Status: Will run
Leah Stith
Time on board: Since 1991
Status: Undecided
Louise Walden
Time on board: Since 1993
Status: Will run In other matters . . . Calendar revised
After reviewing the proposed 1996-97 calendar at its retreat last weekend, the School Board and Superintendent Richard D. Trumble came up with a few revisions.
First, school would be closed on Good Friday, which would be the first day of Spring Break.
Trumble would be given the leeway to figure out - on his own - how to make up any snow days, if necessary.
To make up days schools closed because of inclement weather this year, the board recently decided to extend the school day by 15 minutes - for the rest of this school year.
The 15-minute extension would remain in place in 1996-97 - in case next winter is equally harsh and schools are forced to close for several days.
The board said it would seek teachers' opinions on the revisions before approving the calendar at a later time. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Benn
Bridgeford
I'Anson
Stith
Walden
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD by CNB