DATE: Tuesday, February 25, 1997            TAG: 9702250205

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NANCY YOUNG, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   58 lines

SCHOOL-NAME OUTCRY MAKES MORE IMPACT THAN BUDGET PARTISANS PUSHING RETIRED PRINCIPAL ARE PERSISTENT.

Next year's proposed school budget costs almost $200 million, represents a 6.5 percent increase over this year's and affects every child in the school system.

But at the School Board's first public hearing on the budget Monday night, most of those who spoke didn't even mention it.

They had a more immediate concern: The naming of a middle school in Deep Creek and the determination of supporters of a longtime principal there, Charles S. Brabble Sr., to name it after him. The board's own committee has recommended that the honor go to a former city councilman, Hugo A. Owens Sr.

``I know of Dr. Owens. I know Mr. Brabble,'' said Charlotte Culpepper, one of seven people to speak for Brabble, who was a principal for 44 years before retiring in 1990. ``The school already has Mr. Brabble's name all over it. . .

One of those old timers, J.T. Brescia - who said he has lived in Deep Creek for 71 years and has known Brabble for 44 of them -suggested the school be named Brabble-Owens Middle School.

``I thank Mr. Brabble and his service really entitles him to that,'' Brescia said. ``I would be proud to know if we had convinced you to do it.''

Brescia echoed the sentiments of others that because Owens' achievements are citywide, the board could just as easily name another new school after him, while Brabble's ties are specifically to Deep Creek.

In January, the board held two public hearings on the naming. At the board's Feb. 10 meeting, the committee in charge of recommending a name gave the nod to Owens, and the full board is expected to vote on that recommendation March 10.

The emotionally charged issue put the school budget on the back burner of Monday's public hearing, and only one person spoke about the budget Monday night: LaNette Desler, vice president of the Chesapeake Education Association, which represents local teachers.

Desler expressed her concern that while the proposed raises for teachers might average about 3 percent, teachers at the top of the pay scale would find themselves with only a 0.3 percent raise - the equivalent of $136 a year.

``Anything less (than a cost-of-living raise) would start a downward spiral as you try to attract new employees,'' she said.

School Board member Thomas L. Mercer Sr. said he, too, was concerned about teachers at the top of the scale.

``It seems like $136 at 27 years-plus of service is a slap in the face,'' Mercer said. ``One of the things we have is good morale, and that's going to kick it.''

Mercer and fellow board member Jeffrey A. Rowland asked the administration to come back to the board's next budget work session March 10 with some other workable alternatives.

At that meeting, there will be another public hearing on the budget and the board also may decide to take a final vote. Copies of the budget are available in all the city's libraries and schools, and in the school administration building. KEYWORDS: SCHOOL BUDGET CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD

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