THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604250392
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A13 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Decision '96
Part 2: The Issues
LENGTH: Long : 335 lines
QUESTIONS
1. How would you ensure that the educational needs of all students are met, not primarily the needs of the college-bound?
2. How can the school district go about providing more in-depth vocational programs, given limited funds for city schools?
3. What one thing would you change about the way vocational education is now delivered in the school district? THE CANDIDATE
ELIZABETH DANIELS
Age: 57
Address: 1500 block of Belafonte Drive, Cavalier Manor
Occupation: Dentist
1. Employment readiness for non-college bound students is needed. Useful occupational skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for employment should be a part of our public school curriculum.
2. Currently, vocational courses are available in the areas of: A. building maintenance; B. health occupations (as health care assistants and practical nurses; C. electronics repair; D. catering.
Vocational courses previously offered in the schools were brick masonry, carpentry and auto mechanics. Some persons in our community feel it would be very helpful to return these courses to our schools.
It is difficult to determine if limited funds are the cause or so few job readiness programs. Perhaps priorities could be modified to make it possible to add courses. Industries which would hire students in vocations might be willing to share the financial costs and offer cooperative educational opportunities.
3. Before attempting to change the way vocational education is delivered, I would need information on the evaluation of the programs. The evaluations should be based on the current outcomes and on student and parental satisfaction.
JESSE G. ALSPAUGH JR.
Age: 72
Address: 200 block of Idlewood Avenue, Shea Terrace
Occupation: A retired businessman and a volunteer ``Paired Reader'' at John Tyler Elementary
1. We need a viable vocational education program, which we do not have. We have no real vo-tech - machine shops, electrical shops, auto shops.
2. This is a problem that I have talked to all of the high school principals and business people about, and they say there's no answer to it unless we get the tremendous amount of money to put the program.
3. With the lack of funds, this will be hard to do. It comes down to the last resort, and I want that to be clear. The last resort is to consolidate some schools and cut administrators. That's the last resort. (But) this is the best answer we can come up with.
V.W. ``VIC'' GOODMAN
Age: 57
Address: 1200 block of Tatem Avenue, West Park Homes
Occupation: Retired state Health Department administrator
1. I would ask the guidance counselors to survey the students and find out from them what they think is needed. That would be the foundation for formulating programs, and funding needs.
2. I have heard one of the other candidates speak about a program of getting the local business community to work with the schools to provide training for the students. I think this has a two-pronged attack. One, it provides a training opportunity for the students, with hands-on experience. Two, it provides the business community the opportunity to see what the students are capable of and thereby remove some of the negative stigma attached to Portsmouth education. I would even look to the city to have students work in departments such as Public Works, Parks and Recreation, General Services.
3. I would target vocational training to be within the district. If it was necessary for a student to go outside of the city for special training, that would be another matter.
JAMES E. BRIDGEFORD
Age: 52
Address: 3800 block of Flagship Way in Churchland
Occupation: Systems accountant for the Navy
1. We are obligated to make sure each student receives a quality education. Reading, writing and mathematics are still considered the basics from which other subjects evolve. We should prepare each student to be ready to go either into the job market or college - with the essentials. We have to upgrade our technology areas in order to produce better students in this area. We have to continue to develop, modify and implement a workable plan that will take care of all of the students.
2. We need to find a viable way to furnish our schools with the latest trade equipment. I think regionalization would be one. All systems would support one large regional trade school. The trades with little or no change could be implemented with the least expense. The students still would need to be able to pass the academic requirements.
3. So far, we have numerous small partnerships. In order to implement a strong vocational program, I think we have to push for larger partnerships from major corporations that have the resources and technology to help establish these technical centers. We also have to remember that corporations can only do so much.
LOUISE G. ``SIS'' WALDEN
Age: 53
Address: 500 block of Nansemond Street, Waterview
Occupation: Owner of Olde Towne Flower Market in Portsmouth
1. The school system must offer to all students, whether college-bound or not, courses that ensure proficiency in reading, writing and math. If a person can read, communicate and compute, he can learn anything he chooses.
2. Partnering with businesses who are willing to train or teach students a trade. Regional cooperation is a possibility.
3. When funding is available, I will help find programs to expand courses offered in vocational education. There is clearly a need. (School Board member) Mary Curran and I are currently searching for a way to have a student-operated business in Portsmouth.
LAWRENCE W. I'ANSON JR.
Age: 59
Address: 3100 block of Honeysuckle Lane, Churchland
Occupation: President of the Beazley Foundation.
1. Expansion of current vocational programs is needed.
2. The district needs to enter into more partnerships with local businesses and other educational institutions, such as Tidewater Community College.
3. The district needs to expand the partnerships with the community, having fewer in-house programs and more off-campus programs - where students can go out and get hands-on, real-world experience.
DOUGLAS N. EAMES
Age: 40
Address: Lives on Wayland Drive in Churchland.
Occupation: Self-employed engineering and management services consultant
Election experience: This is his first run for political office.
1. I will recommend that the curriculum is well-rounded in courses which prepare students to deal with daily life, business and citizenship.
2. Vocational education needs to be approached as a regional issue with shared resources and shared funding from participating school districts. We need to expand our current ``school-to-work'' program to include more occupational fields, as well as create an ``Industry Training Program.''
3. I would modernize the program to include a more state-of-the-art curriculum and training devices. I would involve more of the local industries in the training and education process, as they will be one of the primary beneficiaries of the program.
N. GAILE BISHOP
Age: 46
Address: 200 block of York Drive, South Loxley Place
Occupation: Teaches piano and voice and volunteers at the Portsmouth Police Crime Prevention Unit.
1. I would ensure that the educational needs of all students are met, not primarily the needs of the college-bound, by looking at grade point averages and basic reading, English, math and science performance. If I find many students below a C average, I would ask to see lesson plans to see where a teacher's capabilities might be strengthened. And perhaps have a guidance counselor interview the student and the parents to see if the student might need tutoring.
2. In lieu of funding, you could ask about the apprenticeship programs at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Also in lieu of funds, students should be prepared for the TCC technical exam. They would be able to go from school to the technical center. But they need to be tutored to help them pass the entrance exam.
3. I would say that regionally, we could get together with another city and put our money together and have some quality vo-tech centers. Another thing is that the government has auctions several times of the year. Equipment could be bought through that.
B. KEITH NANCE SR.
Age: 36
Address: 100 block of Lamper Road, Park Manor
Occupation: Insurance agent; helped spearhead the drive for an elected board
1. The real question should be: What ever happened to our state-of-the-art vocational program we once had?
Teach the basics to all students. Expound on specialty courses either vo-tech/career-oriented or (those for) college-bound students.
2. Though funds are limited, I am not convinced that those dollars are being used as wisely as possible. If the citizens want to return to a vocational curriculum, they will help find the money by lobbying City Council, establishing private funding sources, etc.
3. A vo-tech high school as we had previously. A program such as we had could be used as a catalyst for a regional school.
DAVID I. JOYNER
Age: 59
Address: 4200 block of Heather Road, Churchland
Occupation: Old Dominion University education professor
1. Local school boards must be diligent in making sound decisions and monitoring all actions of school officials to ensure that the educational needs of all students are met. Each community has a unique type of population which must be considered in order to provide the equity and equality rights of its students. High quality education delivered by high quality teachers speaks to all ability levels, learning styles and career/life aspirations of students served.
2. Now that the vocational education program in Portsmouth City Schools has been almost completely dismantled, I support the arrangements made with Norfolk and Tidewater Community College to provide some of the in-depth vocational (skills) needed by Portsmouth students. The board should suggest and encourage the involvement of local and regional businesses and industry in the creation of school-to-work programs which meet the needs of a wider range of students.
3. I favor the return of a complete program of vocational education to Portsmouth City Schools as soon as possible - with practical skills for the unique needs (of students), a realistic assessment of the job market, and based on the concept of appropriate technology.
KAREN S. JORDAN
Age: 41
Address: 100 block of Elmhurst Court, Simonsdale
Occupation: Homemaker; also president of the Simonsdale Civic Club; helped spearhead the drive for an elected board.
1. Since my family personally benefited from the S.H. Clarke Vocational Center, I feel strongly about this subject. There is a definite need for vocational training and school-to-work programs. As a School Board member, I would look for ways to bring students and businesses together in a mutually beneficial setting.
2. We need to find businesses that would be interested in training students, (like the) Distributive Education Program did in the past.
3. The most important change needed in vocational education is to enlarge the program to make it available to more of our students.
ELIJAH ``BUDDY'' SHARP III
Age: 38
Address: 700 block of Hancock Avenue, Cavalier Manor
Occupation: Instructor at Hampton University, primarily teaching continuing-education courses.
1. I would promote my ``school-to-work'' program. . . . Students not headed for college - and there would be more vocational-minded students once a serious (vocational-technical) program is implemented - would join employer mentorship programs and take workforce readiness courses in the 10th grade, have unpaid occupational training in the 11th grade and begin their youth apprenticeship in the 12th grade.
2. There are limited funds and my school-to-work program will attract business and industry to our school district. . . . It appears that employers would love a chance to work with young, sharp minds.
3. I would keep as many programs in Portsmouth as possible. This will add to our tax base.
M.B. ``RANDI'' STRUTTON
Age: 49
Address: 4700 block of River Shore Road, Churchland
Occupation: Homemaker and president of the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation
1. We can meet the needs of all students by providing enthusiastic teachers who allow them to learn by doing. At all levels, students should participate in more hands-on learning activities, more cooperative learning projects, more independent study, and more workplace learning experiences so that learning is active and contextual. Also, greater cooperation and participation of the community - as mentors, tutors and employers - will be necessary to provide all children with the attention and support needed to master the academic, social and technical skills they require to lead fulfilling lives.
2. To satisfy the needs of both the student and the community, I would seek to establish a public/private alliance that incorporates all of our region's educational resources. Officials from the public schools, business and industry, military and government, and post-secondary schools (community colleges, computer institutes, etc.) would work together to design and implement effective school-to-career programs. Together, this community alliance would determine the programs' expectations, curriculum, instruction and funding.
3. The present vocational education system is ineffective for most students in need of practical training. I would seek to implement a new vocational and technical education program that provides opportunities for all students not planning to enroll in college to work closely with area employers as interns (unpaid and paid), apprentices, and part-time and summer employees.
CAROL P. YOUNG
Age: 29
Address: 2000 block of Colorado Avenue, Kingman Heights
Occupation: Hospital medical clerk
1. Every child has the right to an education. The best that can be offered is a classical curriculum. Vocational training must also be offered.
2. We, meaning every adult, must realize that education and health are top priorities. Thus, we must increase the tax base of our city - meaning bring our business back, put our citizens back to work.
3. I would like to see our children not only participating in these programs - with the latest technologies and state-of-the-art machinery and tools - but also using their creative powers to participate in the development of the next generation of technology, as they are more than capable of.
MARY E. ``BECKY'' NELSON
Age: 39
Address: 900 block of Chumley Road in Hodges Manor
Occupation: Materials expediter at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
1. I think that the best way to do this is to establish three tracks for the curricula: a college prep track, a business track and a vocational education track. Each of these three tracks includes the same basic core curriculum, but diversifies in the selection of electives. Where an individual might need algebra, geometry and pre-calculus for college prep, these courses are not necessary for someone who plans to go directly to work after high school or plans to pursue education in a vocational school. A good, basic English and mathematics background is imperative - (whether a student is taking) advanced studies or not. The decision of which track to pursue should be one made by the parents and student. If the curricula are designed appropriately, with a reasonable amount of flexibility and with the core curriculum intact, the decision made in the ninth grade would not necessarily have to be the final one. Conceivably, under this type of system, students would be able to change tracks as late as the junior year.
2. I am a strong proponent of ``school to work'' programs. These type of programs help the schools and provide local industry with fresh and willing employees. In addition, I understand that there are a number of federal grants available to assist in initiating this type of program.
3. I understand that a number of courses are offered, but that little practical hands-on experience is provided. I would like to again make a statement for ``school-to-work'' programs or apprenticeships in conjunction with local industry to assist in providing this hands-on experience.
NORTH E. WEST
Age: 63
Address: Lives on Afton Parkway, in Cradock.
Occupation: Semi-retired in the home-repair business
This candidate did not respond to our questions. He told a reporter April 12 that he planned to drop out of the School Board race; he could not be contacted this week for confirmation.
KEYWORDS: PUBLIC JOURNALISM COMMUNITY CONVERSATION PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL
BOARD CANDIDATE PORTSMOUTH MAYOR'S RACE PORTSMOUTH CITY
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