THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, January 28, 1997             TAG: 9701280278
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY NANCY YOUNG, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   50 lines

CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS VOTE TO ASK FOR MORE PAY RUNNING FOR ELECTED OFFICE IS EXPENSIVE, THE OFFICIALS FOUND OUT RECENTLY.

Citing increased expenses since becoming elected, School Board members passed a resolution asking the General Assembly to allow them the option to more than double their pay.

``Obviously none of us ran for the office of School Board member for the financial compensation,'' said board member Patricia P. Willis at Monday night's meeting. ``. . . The problem I see now is, it's gotten so expensive to run for the office.''

The board voted 7-2 in favor of the resolution, which calls for the ceiling on pay for Chesapeake School Board members to be raised to $7,200 a year. Now, board members make $3,000 a year.

Prior to 1995, members were appointed. The switch to making the position an elected one added campaign expenses that might discourage those who could not readily raise the funds needed, some board members argued. The promise of higher pay to help pay back campaign loans might encourage worthy candidates to run, they said.

``There are young people who may want to run. They have families, but they've got to do first things first,'' said board member Allen H. Goode, Jr. ``They've got to buy milk, they've got to buy shoes.''

Board member James L. Wheaton and Jeffrey A. Rowland voted against the resolution. Wheaton said that with the optional health benefits the city provides, the cost of compensation for School Board members under the new pay rate could add up to $11,000.

Rowland argued against the measure, saying the district had higher priorities for its increasingly tight funds.

``I know we're not up here for the money,'' said Rowland. ``But given the fact that we are coming up on tough budget times, I'd rather it go to the kids in the classroom than to individual board members.''

School Board Chairwoman Barbara B. Head said that a vote for the resolution did not necessarily mean a vote for a pay raise, it simply made such a raise possible should the General Assembly, in the current session, approve legislation allowing the pay ceiling to be raised. She said if that's approved, the law could go into effect as of July 1, 1997, which is the beginning of the next fiscal year. At that time, board members could bring an actual pay raise up for a vote.

Head said her expenses as a School Board member easily outstrip the $3,000 a year she is paid.

``Oh certainly, just in gas alone,'' said Head, who added that she spends well over 20 hours a week fulfilling her duties. She estimated that it cost her $3,200 to run for the office in December of 1995.

KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOLS CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD PAY RAISE