THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996               TAG: 9603060618
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   38 lines

TEARS, LAUGHTER FLOW AS BOARD MEMBERS BOW OUT

After a week of turbulence, soul-searching and tough decisions, members of the Virginia Beach School Board paused during their Tuesday meeting to thank and be thanked.

In remarks punctuated by laughter and tears, the board brought to a close the most painful seven days in the district's history.

``I'm here tonight to thank you for your service to our children,'' said Dianne O. Florence, former president of the city's PTA council. While Florence said she had disagreed with board decisions on occasion, she still appreciated the effort.

``I hope you will continue your work for children,'' she said. ``We need good people, and you are all good people.''

In announcing that she would not run for election, Karen O. O'Brien - the only board member to escape the lash of the special grand jury report - expressed her appreciation to the division's teachers and administrators and to her fellow board members.

``As a parent of three children who have derived great benefit from the instruction they received here, I want to personally thank each of you for your tireless work and positive contributions,'' O'Brien said.

And board chairwoman June T. Kernutt struggled through tears to read from her letter of resignation, but also drew laughter as she thanked each departing board member for their special contributions.

``The board that has been asked to resign, ironically, is the one that's been working to fix the problem,'' she said. ``We aren't in denial.''

KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET RESIGNATIONS by CNB