THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605100209
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Education
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
A citizen group studying enrollment growth and the condition of city schools now wants to hear from residents.
The group - officially known as The Blue Ribbon Commission - will sponsor three public forums this coming week to give residents a chance to share their ideas on brick-and-mortar needs in the school district.
Residents also can use the time to express concerns about proposed school construction or renovation.
The first forum is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Holland.
Two more forums are scheduled at the same time on Tuesday and Thursday - at Lakeland and Nansemond River high schools, respectively.
The idea is to give city residents greater input in a matter often dominated by experts, commission Chairman Charles O. Christian said.
``The city staff and the school system staff have given us information on different aspects of things,'' he said.
``Now, we want to hear what citizens have to say about the building and renovation plans; or find out what they think needs to be done.''
Compared with last school year, the district's enrollment is up nearly 5 percent - one of the biggest jumps ever.
Each year, the commission will file a report with the council and the School Board, sizing up the district's capital-improvement plans. It also may recommend changes.
The first report is due in September.
Both the council and the board appointed local activists and parents to the 11-person commission in December.
The commission itself was the council's brainchild.
This school year, the board approved an ambitious $105.7 million capital-improvement plan, calling for six new schools and renovation work over the next decade.
It's up to the council to earmark money for the plans, however.
The council already has covered the price tag for several major projects, including:
The construction of Northern Shores Elementary, scheduled to open in Harbour View this fall.
The installation of new roofs at John F. Kennedy Middle and Florence Bowser Elementary this summer.
And the installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at nine schools this fall. by CNB