THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 24, 1996 TAG: 9610220122
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 81 lines
There's nothing like a public hearing on the school budget to teach humility to school administrators: PTA members, teachers and employee representatives pointed to a host of unmet needs at last week's hearing on the upcoming 1997-98 budget.
The meeting at Lake Taylor High School started a months-long process that will culminate with the School Board's spring adoption of the next fiscal year's budget. Administrators next month will price the public's requests, which easily will run in the millions of dollars.
Eight people spoke at the hearing, outlining wishes for capital improvements, classroom instructional supplies and more competitive salaries.
``People have put forth very real needs,'' Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. said after the hearing, attended by about 60 people. ``We really intend to take all of these under consideration.''
Listed below are some of the budget requests:
Two parents from the Norview Elementary School PTA lobbied for an expansion of the school's parking lot and construction of a combination gymnasium and auditorium. The parking situation has become dangerous, said parent Nydia Otero.
``Due to double and triple parking, and motorists parking on the crosswalk, children cannot be seen by passing motorists until almost coming up on them,'' Otero said. ``There have been many near accidents by trying to enter and exit the parking area.''
As for the need of a ``gymnatorium,'' parent Sue Acree said the 500-plus student enrollment in the 1952-era school caused space problems in the existing cafeteria/auditorium. Besides being used for meals and assemblies, the room also serves as a music and chorus classroom, and it's no longer large enough to accommodate all of the students at assemblies, Acree said. A gymnatorium once was included on the school system's five-year capital improvement plan but was bumped for other priorities, Acree said.
Parent Nell Armstrong pointed out crowding problems caused by adding mobile classrooms to schools without expanding such ``common areas'' as cafeterias, bathrooms, media centers and storage space.
``Too much instructional time is lost standing in cafeteria and bathroom lines,'' Armstrong said. ``Eating lunch as early as 10:20 a.m. or as late as 1 p.m. can't be beneficial either.''
Marian Flickinger, president of the Norfolk Federation of Teachers, said her group is pushing alternative programs for disruptive students as top priority. Supporting ``zero tolerance'' of disruptive students, Flickinger said, ``Students who want to learn should not have their instructional time eaten up with one or two students who rob the majority of students of precious instructional time.''
Flickinger also sought money to provide every teacher with a computer, saying many could not afford to buy one on their own. ``. . . The system has not provided one for their use, yet expects them to teach students the importance of technology,'' she said. Training teachers how to use technology also is key, she said.
Shirley M. George, president of the Education Association of Norfolk, advocated smaller class sizes and more computers in the classroom, among other things. George also cited potential budget cuts, questioning the need for several central office administrative positions and wondering whether there were ``too many lieutenants and not enough soldiers'' in special education. She also questioned an increase in travel money for administrators.
``You are emphasizing to the staff accountability and academic rigor,'' George said. ``However, you cannot expect teachers and support staff to be accountable if you do not provide the necessary budget support. You, too, must be held accountable.''
Norview High School teacher Carol Taylor pleaded for money to buy fans for classrooms at the building, which is not air-conditioned. The School Board nearly has met its goal of air-conditioning all of the city's schools, except those, such as Norview, that are on the list for renovation and expansion. Phase 1 of the Norview's renovation is not scheduled to begin until 2000.
Taylor said students have to wear coats and gloves in some classrooms during the winter and that classes are moved in the fall and spring because classrooms are too hot to teach and learn.
``Is raising test scores more important than the health and welfare of students and teachers?'' Taylor said.
Barbara Howard, president of the Norfolk Federation of Teachers' classified employees, called for overtime pay for secretaries, better equipment for custodians and fairer treatment of bus drivers. She also asked that school administrators fund promised pay raises to classified personnel based on their years of employment.
KEYWORDS: EDUCATION by CNB