
DATE: Monday, March 31, 1997                TAG: 9703310102

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY NIA NGINA MEEKS, STAFF WRITER   

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:  103 lines

AND NOW, H-E-E-E-ERE'S TIM JENNEY SUPERINTENDENT ADDS CABLE TV TO HIS BAG OF TOOLS FOR REACHING PARENTS.

Virginia Beach School Superintendent Tim Jenney smiled as he strode into the video services department of the Virginia Beach Technical and Career Center on a recent Monday morning.

He spoke to staffers and greeted his guest, Beach real estate developer Gerald Divaris. Soon, Bea Treece slid from her desk with a box of make-up, cotton balls and other supplies. She followed Jenney into a small room with a mirror trimmed with Hollywood lights. She draped a sheet around him and dabbed make-up onto his face.

In minutes, Jenney headed to the studio to tape the latest episode of his cable television show, ``The School Picture.'' Only a few weeks old and available only to Beach cable television viewers, the program is one of Jenney's latest efforts to be the superintendent constituents will recognize.

``His goal is to be the most visible superintendent that passes through these doors,'' said Kathy O. Bulman, assistant superintendent for media and communications development.

Seeing Jenney on television is not a unique event. Most people can do that if they flip on the televised School Board meetings.

But school-board Jenney is different from talk-show Jenney. By his own admission, he tries to strip his humor and be serious and professional at board meetings.

The other Jenney leans into the discussion and looks deeply into his guest's eyes. He even grins.

``My television training has been slow to come but steady,'' said the superintendent, who arrived here a year ago. ``I had a communications person in Tulsa who was in television. She showed me how to conduct business on the air. She used to go crazy with my sarcasm, so I don't do that anymore on the air.''

Chat-show Jenney is closer to the real Jenney.

Tammy Hooten saw Jenney's two sides immediately when she met him at a parents' conference at Arrowhead Elementary.

``He struck me as a very quiet, reserved man from past appearances,'' said Hooten, the school's PTA president. ``When he spoke about what was going on at the school, he seemed very at ease and very comfortable about what he sees happening. The more you talk to him, he does open up.''

Of course, not every parent knows that yet.

Enter the Jenney campaign:

He's pledged to visit the division's 83 schools; he sends updates to school employees and parents; and few weeks pass in which Jenney has not addressed a civic group of some sort.

He is past the halfway point in his school visits. And his calendar is filled with speaking engagements.

``He wants to get involved,'' Hooten said. ``And in order to get involved, you have to be seen.''

In the studio, Jenney chatted with his guest as technicians got everything in sync.

He tapes two 30-minute shows a month. His office generates a guest list and develops scripts.

Jenney chooses the guests. They tend to be people who echo his theme: schools are important to every facet of life.

He invited Divaris to offer a perspective on the importance of schools from the business sector. His previous guest, Donald L. Maxwell, the city's economic development head, gave like input.

``If we do it (the show) poorly, it'll be seen by lots and lots of people,'' Jenney said to Divaris, laughing.

Then the tape rolled.

``Welcome to `The School Picture.' I'm Dr. Tim Jenney, superintendent of schools of Virginia Beach. . . ''

Smooth. Relaxed. Poised.

No signs of the introvert that colleagues say is Jenney.

``He's a person that can do whatever needs to be done,'' said Mike O'Hara, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

``This is a good opportunity for the school division to have the issues discussed in an open forum.''

Superintendents fronting television shows is not new, said Gary Marx, spokesman for the Arlington-based American Association of School Administrators. In fact, Portsmouth School Superintendent Richard Trumble also has a program. While national numbers are still low, Marx sees more school officials venturing before the cameras.

``A growing number of far-sighted people are using the potential that cable television has to offer,'' Marx said. ``It's insightful to use the medium to communicate.''

Which is Jenney's point.

``I have an intent on utilizing the medium,'' he said. ``One can get into every house with this.''

Jenney then strode from the studio back to the make-up room. He had to get back to the office and needed to scrub off his foundation. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/The Virginian-Pilot

Tim Jenney, superintendent of Virginia Beach Public Schools, sits on

the set of ``The School Picture'' before taping an episode. The

program is one way Jenney keeps parents and other taxpayers abreast

of school-related issues.

Graphic

JENNEY'S SHOWTIMES

``The School Picture'' can be seen on Cox Cable Channel 48 in

Virginia Beach.

Today: noon and 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 9 p.m.

Thursday: 4:30 p.m.