THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 21, 1997 TAG: 9701210255
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Staff writers Matt Bowers, Warren Fiske and Robert Little and
the Associated Press contributed to this report.
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 148 lines
Charter school opponents bend House panel's ears
Opposition to the idea of charter schools in Virginia was loud and long Monday during a public hearing before the House Education Committee.
Loudest and longest were representatives of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, in town on King-Lee-Jackson Day for their annual legislature-lobbying day.
Opposition also came from groups representing school boards and superintendents. They spoke against the concept mostly on questions of need and liability.
But speaker after speaker from NAACP chapters around the state voiced broader concerns that these public schools, freed from some state policies and regulations, would create a separate and unequal system split by race and economics. If there's a problem with public schools, fix it, they said.
``If you have a house, and your house is broken, you don't take your money and build another house,'' said Garrison Hunter, a senior at Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk and an officer in an NAACP youth council.
``Yes, we need changes,'' said March Cromuel Jr., president of the Chesapeake branch of the NAACP. ``But the changes we need are to change the public schools to the best public school system we can make.''
If parents want to send their children to ``private schools,'' then they should use their own money - ``Don't use my tax dollars,'' he said.
Paul C. Gillis, president of the state NAACP, was more pointed. ``If you vote for this, we're going to come after you,'' he told committee members to approving shouts from backers wearing ``NAACP - We Vote'' stickers.
Supporters of charter schools weren't as numerous, but just as fervent. They included the Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers, the Portsmouth Public Schools and some parents.
``I think we do need more choice, more competition . . . the courage to move forward,'' said Dimitrios N. Rerras, a Norfolk father of three who ran for a state Senate seat in 1995. ``If we want accountability, charter schools will provide it. It will give parents alternatives.''
The bill's sponsor for the fourth straight year, Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News), figured his committee was split evenly, 11-11, going into Friday's scheduled vote.
``It's unfortunate that race has been injected into this,'' he said after the hearing. ``This bill does not create a second school system. . . . Why don't we say that the Governor's schools create a second system?
``What we're trying to do is provide an alternative program.''
Heartfelt positions notwithstanding, participants gave the many young people in the hearing room a lesson in public life. Rerras and Cromuel, opponents on the issue, sat seat-by-seat during the hearing, nodding respectfully to each other after Cromuel's vigorous speech.
ALSO MONDAY Bill would bar bad guys from wearing body armor
The General Assembly has become so tough on crime that it's even cracking down on the criminals the police shoot. It may soon be a crime for them simply to survive.
The state Senate voted 37-1 for a bill that would make it illegal to wear body armor while committing a felony.
Newport News Sen. Marty Williams offered the bill, saying police in his district noticed ``a certain boldness from criminals wearing body armor while committing crimes.''
The lone voter against the bill, Botetourt Sen. Malfourd W. ``Bo'' Trumbo, doesn't think the law would work. He doubts many felons would rather take a bullet than risk breaking another law.
``I don't know how many potential felons read the Code before committing their act, but I doubt very many,'' Trumbo said.
``I don't understand what the purpose of this bill is. If it's a deterrent bill, I think the alternative - death - would be far worse.'' Senate closes FOI Act to those in state prisons
The Senate voted 30-8 to exempt state prisoners from the Freedom of Information Act, a bill designed to reduce the paperwork costs of frivolous requests inmates make for state documents.
Spotsylvania Sen. Edward Houck was one of the few opponents, arguing that freedom to collect information is a fundamental right even for inmates. Frivolous requests are already discouraged by the costs of copying and research allowed in the law, Houck said.
``I know it's never expedient to speak here on the floor about incarcerated individuals in anything less than a passionate, blood-thirsty sense, but to me the answer is already in there,'' he said. Bill would put counseling info on gambling tickets
Del. Robert Tata, R-Virginia Beach, has introduced legislation that would require the Lottery Department to print a toll-free phone number of an organization that counsels gambling addicts on the back of all game tickets.
The organization would refer Virginia callers to counseling services available near their homes.
Tata said he introduced the bill ``for some constituents who feel gambling is a problem.'' Tata said he is concerned that the lottery lures many people who have gambling addictions.
Of the 38 states that have lotteries, 14 print toll-free gambling counseling numbers either on the backs of tickets, ticket machines or brochures.
The House gave preliminary approval the bill Monday. A final vote is expected today. Chesapeake Sen. Mark Earley has a similar bill working through the Senate. Eager to spend, officials submit plans for surplus
Legislators had no trouble finding ways to spend a budget surplus of nearly $300 million. Delegates submitted 850 amendments totaling $1.2 billion. The Senate was equally eager to spend, proposing 654 budget amendments totaling $1.2 billion.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
``I would take offense that the gentleman would accuse me of petty consistency.''
- Del. George W. Grayson (D-Williamsburg) was promoting legislation to name a bridge on Route 60. Del. C. Richard Cranwell asked if the $432 needed to print the bridge signs was consistent with efforts to cut spending.
NOTICED & NOTED
Just before the noon session, Virginia Citizens with Mental Disabilities lined up on both sides of the walkway lawmakers use to reach the Capitol.
Wearing lapel buttons bearing messages such as ``Head Injuries: A Lifelong Challenge'' and ``Make Waves Virginia,'' and holding placards begging ``No Cuts'' and ``Support Mental Health Services,'' they heard a few short speeches by Vic Thomas and Yvonne Miller, among others.
The activists' clear message: We want our share of the budget surplus.
GETTING INVOLVED
Today at 10 a.m. there is a public hearing on a proposal to lower personal property taxes.
Senate Room B, the General Assembly Building. (The bill number: SB750).
AARP-Virginia rolls in at 8:30 a.m. today.
STAYING IN TOUCH
CONSTITUENT VIEWPOINTS - A toll-free hot line to give commonwealth citizens the opportunity to express their views on issues before the General Assembly: (800) 889-0229 ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Del. Robert Tata
Sen. Marty Williams
Paul C. Gillis
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997 PROPOSED BILLS