THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996 TAG: 9603050099
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Norfolk school administrators said their effort to recruit more African-American teachers improved in 1995, part of a longstanding goal to employ a more diverse teaching force.
Four of every 10 new hires during the year were black, said Thomas McAnulty, acting senior director of personnel.
``It's the highest number I can remember in six years in personnel,'' McAnulty told the School Board.
McAnulty said that 106 of the 263 teachers hired, or 40.4 percent, were black, while 151, or 57.4 percent, were ``European American'' and six, or 2.2 percent, were Asian or Hispanic.
In an annual personnel report McAnulty presented to the board, he said the ``major challenge'' facing his department is ``attracting and retaining a top quality and diverse teaching force.''
Some board members have contended that the percentage of black teachers should more closely reflect the numbers of black students in the 37,000-student system. About 61 percent of the city's students are black, while about 35 percent are white, and the remainder Asian, Hispanic or other race.
The teaching force is almost the reverse: 37.5 percent of teachers are black, while 61.4 percent are white, and 1.1 percent are of other races.
African Americans, however, made up the majority of the school system's ``classified'' employees - 71.5 percent in 1995. They are teachers' aides, cafeteria workers, secretaries, custodians.
In Virginia, blacks make up about 18 percent of the teaching force. Of ``serious concern,'' McAnulty said, is the relatively small pool of black graduates who want to be teachers, and there is tough competition among school districts nationwide to hire them.
Board members, concerned about low test scores, have placed priority on holding teachers accountable for student performance. They have called on administrators to weed out bad teachers, and they told McAnulty that they wanted to ensure that the system hired the top recruits.
Board member Anita Poston said tough hiring controls are needed so that ``we're getting the cream of the crop rather than the bottom of the barrel.''
McAnulty acknowledged that Norfolk hires some college graduates who did not make an A in their student-teaching course. He said, however, that students with a C or below are not hired. LITTLE CREEK FAMILY NIGHT
A pizza dinner and entertainment by a children's author and a children's performer are on tap Monday for Little Creek Elementary's family night.
The focus of the night is to share with families why reading is important and what it takes to be a good writer. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.
On hand will be author Kali Dakos and performer Sid Kratzenburg. For more information, call 441-1820. by CNB