DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997                 TAG: 9703020112

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   48 lines

SUPERINTENDENT TO HOST A TV SHOW ON BEACH SCHOOLS ``THE SCHOOL PICTURE'' WILL HAVE INTERVIEWS FOCUSING ON THE DISTRICT'S TIES TO THE BEACH.

It's not exactly Oprah, but a new talk show will be hitting city airwaves starting Monday afternoon.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy R. Jenney will be hosting ``The School Picture,'' a half-hour interview show on Cox Cable Channel 48, VBTV. Jenney will record two shows per month, each with a different guest who has ties to the school district. Each show will be repeated for two weeks at varying times.

The first program, however, featuring City Economic Development Director Don Maxwell, will run for a month, premiering Monday at 4:30 p.m.

This is the second show launched by the school division since the fall. The first, hosted by public information coordinator Joe Lowenthal, focuses on a current issue in the division and airs during the closed session of each School Board meeting.

``The School Picture'' will focus on the role the district plays as a part of the larger community, according to Kathy Bulman, assistant superintendent for Media and Communications Development. Guests will help explain those ties but could also address education issues.

On the first program, Maxwell and Jenney discuss the role education plays in the city's economic development, and the factors that contribute to out-of-town businesses relocating here.

``Schools really do play an important part in the economic development of a city,'' Bulman said. ``And we need to have ties to the business community so our courses and programs reflect the needs of the businesses.''

Jenney said the program will allow him to communicate directly with the community.

``There's no topic more important for the future of our city than ensuring an excellent education for our students,'' he said. MEMO: The first program will appear on VBTV-48 this week: Monday at

4:30 p.m., Tuesday at 9:30 p.m., Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., Thursday at

10:30 p.m. and Saturday at 9 p.m. Beginning March 10, the show's

regular schedule will be Mondays at noon and 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 9

p.m., Thursdays at 4:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 a.m. and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. ILLUSTRATION: [Photo]

Superintendent of Schools Timothy R. Jenney, above, will interview

the city's economic development director, Don Maxwell, in the

premiere show.

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