THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 9, 1997 TAG: 9702070400
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Aleta Payne
LENGTH: 76 lines
The Virginia Beach School Board met Tuesday. Here's some of what happened: Board chair says meetings too long
Chairman Robert Hagans said board meetings have been running too long to be fair to citizens trying to follow the proceedings. He asked that board members contact staff with questions before the meeting and that they each limit their individual questions and comments on issues to two minutes when possible. Decision made on pilot programs
The board approved the continuation of three pilot programs contingent on the availability of funds and of enrollment reaching required levels. They are: the firm at Green Run High School; certified copier technician, which will be offered next year at the Technical and Career Education Center; and technology foundations, offered at Ocean Lakes High School. The board voted not to continue an advanced placement music theory course at First Colonial High School. Lynnhaven to get language option
The board also approved a new pilot foreign language exploratory program for sixth-graders at Lynnhaven Middle School beginning next September. The pilot will make available to students a nine-week class in French, one in Spanish, onein German and one in Latin. The classes will be an introduction into each language and will be piloted for two years with an evaluation in June 1999. Teacher training and supplies will cost about $500, which will be paid for from Lynnhaven's school-site funds. Block scheduling, yes; expansion, no
During the meeting, the board accepted a report that recommended block scheduling be continued at Kempsville, Ocean Lakes and Princess Anne high schools but not expanded to any other of the city's high schools until those programs are thoroughly evaluated. The report also recommended that the board adopt a policy to govern the development, approval and evaluation of pilot programs and study the use of time in high schools. AP English class wins approval
The board agreed to move advanced placement English language and composition from pilot status to a standard course offering. The class, currently available at First Colonial High School, has completed a two-year pilot phase. There is noadditional cost for teachers' salaries associated with the class because it is taken to fulfill the 11th grade English requirement. Full-day kindergarten report
Members heard a report on the differing views of the educational value of full-day kindergarten. Most kindergarten classes in the city are half day. Education experts disagree on the benefit of a full-day program. The key to a successful kindergarten program, the board was told, is the quality of the instruction in the classroom.
The cost in Virginia Beach to a shift for all students to full day would be around $13 million for additional classrooms, teachers, etc. Board member Tim Jackson said he would like to see the district look into piloting full-day programs at random schools. No decision on sports at KLMS
Board members reviewed several options for offering sports to students at Kemps Landing Magnet School but took no action. They indicated they are concerned with long-term solutions to the problem, particularly given the age ofthe Kemps Landing building and hopes to increase enrollment in the program. For the short term, Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney said he would suggest keeping the current system. The board is scheduled to vote at its next meeting, Feb. 18. New principals approved
Members of the board approved Joseph Damus, an assistant principal at Strawbridge Elementary School, as the new principal of Indian Lakes Elementary School. The board also approved Donald Clement, principal of Centerville Elementary School, as principal of the new Christopher Farms Elementary School, which will open in the fall.