THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 19, 1996 TAG: 9606190396
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 80 lines
Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney said Tuesday he will continue investigating concerns raised by a group of African-American parents about the treatment of black students within the school division.
Jenney said school officials are collecting ``accurate and appropriate data'' that will allow them to study a statistical analysis of how students are disciplined based on their race.
He also said he will look into individual complaints raised by almost a dozen parents who spoke before the board at Tuesday's meeting. And Jenney said he welcomes the chance to meet with the leadership of the group, which calls itself the Progressive Action Committee.
Based on the information that comes out of the inquiries, Jenney said the school leadership will come up with a plan ``to address any deficiencies in our system.''
The parents who came before the board offered a litany of experiences which, some said, show staff members in the state's second-largest school district need more training on how to handle a diverse student body.
``We have teachers telling kids things like, `You can't learn, you shouldn't be here,' '' said parent Barbara Pryor.
Debbie Hansley said her daughter was suspended from Kempsville Middle School because of her body language. Hansley said her daughter was standing next to another student who threatened someone. Because Hansley's daughter had her hand on her hip at the time, ``the assistant principal thought this was threatening,'' Hansley said.
Hansley contended that there are cultural differences in the way African-American children speak and carry themselves that may be misperceived.
``I just have a problem with the way our children are treated,'' she said.
About 35 African Americans applauded as speakers rose to the podium to tell their stories. Some of the emotionally charged complaints will likely prove difficult to verify, and the lack of easily accessible statistics from the division has made it difficult to refute or support concerns that African-American children are being disciplined more often and more harshly than others.
Among other concerns parents raised are the number of African-American employees in the division's classrooms and its leadership, and the access to special, challenging programs for African-American children.
In a letter to board member Delceno C. Miles, Michael Hamar, president of the Virginia Beach Association for the Gifted and Talented, said his organization believes ``there are definite problems with the referral and identification process for the Gifted and Talented program in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools.''
Hamar, however, said he does not believe there is a deliberate plan of racial discrimination, but that there are better ways of identifying children of all racial and economic groups for inclusion in the gifted program.
To that end, he suggested that the board reconsider a suggestion by another gifted advisory group in the community that all division first-graders be screened in their second semester for possible inclusion in the gifted program. This proposal was not included in the 1996-97 budget because of monetary constraints, but supporters believe it will eliminate some of the inconsistencies that play into deciding which children are identified as gifted.
Miles, a graduate of the Virginia Beach public schools, told the parents as they filed out of the meeting: ``Rest assured this issue will be kept alive. We will investigate.''
``Please don't walk away thinking you were speaking to deaf ears. We want Virginia Beach to be the very best for all children,'' she said, urging them to contact her with additional concerns.
The public comments came after almost 40 minutes of recognition of division successes this year from athletic champions to national winners in academic competitions.
The board also heard from several parents who objected to a proposed bylaw change suggested by school administrators that would have affected when and on what topics community members could address the board during meetings. The board decided to delay the matter until next month, when five new board members will take office. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
CHARLIE MEADS/The Virginian-Pilot
Dafney Kennedy was one of nearly a dozen parents who spoke before
the Virginia Beach School Board on Tuesday. Some said the district's
staff needs more training on how to handle a diverse student body.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD by CNB