THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603190096
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: EDUCATION
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Parents representing the small subdivision of Waterford Oaks off Virginia Route 10, near Smithfield, were disappointed last week when the School Board decided to go ahead with moving about 75 students this fall from Carrollton to Hardy Elementary.
Last month, several of those parents pleaded with the board not to move about 15 elementary school students who live in the subdivision. And a motion to go ahead with the change failed to get a second.
This month, Pamela Edwards, representing the Windsor District, moved once again to go ahead with the redistricting.
``I genuinely don't feel we accomplish anything by starting a trend for overcrowdedness or mobile units,'' Edwards said.
The School Board now has approved rezonings in both the Carrollton/Hardy and the Windsor/Carrsville districts to make way for more students expected in the county schools this fall.
Last month, the board approved a move to transfer about the same number of students from Windsor Elementary to the new Carrsville Elementary, due to open in September.
The small group of parents left the meeting quietly, but not before they were assured by board member Herb DeGroft that they need not be concerned about having their children attend Hardy.
``I have the highest confidence in (principal) Richard Crawford and his staff,'' DeGroft said. ``He will welcome these students with open arms and make them as much a part of his school as anybody.''
Earlier in the meeting, only two citizens spoke at a public hearing held to get comments on Superintendent Jane York's recommended 1996-97 operating budget, and both of them favored the recommendations.
York has recommended a $31.4 million budget that would allow for a 4.2 percent salary increase for teachers, an increase of about 4 percent for other school employees, nine new teachers to make way for increased enrollment, and four replacement and two additional school buses.
Some board members previously opposed York's recommendation for salary increases. Members also debated about the need for a full-time deputy sheriff to patrol the middle and high schools, a budget item of $22,750.
The board is expected to come to a final decision about the budget when it meets again at 3 p.m. on March 26. The budget needs to be presented to the Board of Supervisors by April 1. by CNB