THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 25, 1996 TAG: 9603250045
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
School board members across Virginia are gearing up to fight for millions of dollars in federal money available to improve local schools that Gov. George F. Allen has refused to accept.
They're encouraged by a budget bill the General Assembly passed this month that would require the Allen administration to take the money if 85 of Virginia's 136 school boards, or almost two-thirds of them, request the federal Goals 2000 money.
Even though Allen, a conservative Republican, has yet to sign the bill into law - and may not - some school boards are already acting.
Virginia could get about $6.7 million of the federal money. Local officials want to use it to help their schools put into place Virginia's tough new academic standards in math, science, social studies and English. It would help pay for teacher training, curriculum development, and new books and instructional supplies.
Last week, the Norfolk School Board became one of the first to approve a resolution asking the state to apply for the money.
More are expected to follow, said Frank E. Barham, executive director of the Virginia School Boards Association. Norfolk's resolution was modeled after a sample resolution the association sent last week to the commonwealth's school boards.
``I think there will be enough (boards to vote for it) because they believe thatwe ought to get Virginia taxpayers' money rather than letting it be spent in 48 other states,'' Barham said.
Only Virginia and New Hampshire turned down first-year funding for Goals 2000, although three other states do not plan to take the money that is now available in the second year, according to the governor's office.
Allen last year rejected the money because he fears federal strings and intrusion into local schools.
But school board members want to send Allen a grassroots message they hope he won't ignore: Money to help educate Virginia's children is more important than political ideology.
Norfolk schools Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. acknowledged that individual districts would not get much money: Norfolk, he said, might get $100,000, compared to an operating budget that next year will top $200 million.
But, Nichols said, ``Every $100,000 counts. When you're talking about cutting programs in the $35,000 to $50,000 range, it would fund a lot of them.''
Nichols said the federal government already places tight strings on local school districts for practically every federal dollar they get, including special education funds and money for disadvantaged children. Most school districts' operating budgets contain less than 5 percent in federal funds. In Norfolk, it's 2 percent.
``That camel's already under the tent,'' Nichols said. ``Unless we're willing to give up all federal (education) dollars, I don't think this will make any difference.''
Added Barham: ``Why single out education to vent your frustrations about federal strings and requirements? Philosophically, you should reject all federal funds - for disaster aid, for transportation.''
Even so, Allen's concerns of federal meddling are shared by many conservative parents, as well as some school board members.
Two of Norfolk's seven School Board members opposed the district's Goals 2000 resolution.
``The amount of money is minuscule compared to the cost of education,'' said member Robert F. Williams, who noted that the $6.7 million adds up to about $7 per student for Virginia's 1 million school children.
``For the very first time,'' Williams added, ``this would allow the federal government to become involved in general education, and I believe this would be an intrusive act.''
Allen and other conservatives fear that, by accepting the money, the federal government would attempt to impose academic standards on schools.
State legislators will reconvene in Richmond on April 17 to consider changes or vetoes that Allen makes to legislation passed during the General Assembly's two-month session.
Ken Stroupe, Allen's spokesman, said the governor may attempt to strike language in the budget bill that would close the door for school boards to seek Goals 2000 funding.
``The governor has always said that improving education is the primary responsibility of state and local government,'' Stroupe said.
Virginia schoolchildren hang in the balance, many parents and educators say.
``Given that the people from all of the PTAs and the school boards were saying this is something we need, and we're already facing cutbacks, he should go ahead and take the money,'' said parent Cheryl Simpson, president of the Ocean View Elementary PTA in Norfolk. ``There are a lot of needs. I believe it would do the school system a great deal of good.''
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY VIRGINIA SCHOOL BOARDS by CNB