DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997                TAG: 9704110214

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 28   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Aleta Payne 

                                            LENGTH:   84 lines

SCHOOL BULLETIN BOARD

The Virginia Beach School Board met Tuesday. Here's some of what happened. Consolidation deferred

The board again deferred a vote on the consolidation of the city print shop and school reprographics. The issue has been dangling unresolved for months. Last year, the board voted to hold off on consolidation of some school financial services with those of the city.

However, there was agreement to move ahead on linking print and reprographics. Questions have arisen, however, over the efficiency and cost of such a move as well as the impact on school reprographics employees.

Board member Tim Jackson made the motion to defer the decision for 60 days.

``I have serious concerns whether this consolidation of the print shop is in the best interest of the school system,'' he said.

Board member Paul Lanteigne argued, however, that Jackson could vote against consolidation if he was not comfortable with it rather than deferring it again.

``Take a stand and let's move on,'' Lanteigne said. ``We're up here to take some action, to get things done, not to put things off.''

Jackson responded that he felt consolidation might be a viable option at a later date, but not now for him.

``We have made decisions on things,'' Jackson said. ``This is my decision on this issue.'' Equipment for schools

The board approved a contract for replacement of heating, air conditioning and ventilation equipment at Rosemont, Providence, King's Grant, Creeds, College Park and Windsor Woods elementary schools, but not without discussion. The contract amount is $2.8 million, but could run less, board members were told.

Board member Nancy Guy expressed concerns, as she had in the past, for approaching capital projects in a piecemeal fashion rather than comprehensively. She questioned whether other construction work planned for Creeds and College Park would require undoing the HVAC project before the board.

Anthony Arnold, director of facilities planning and construction, said any later renovation work would not create a problem for the HVAC project. He said the systems being replaced were 20 or more years old and were becoming increasingly expensive to maintain and repair.

``We're beyond the point where we can hold it together with a Band-Aid,'' he said.

Arnold said he appreciated the concern about undoing work of one project in order to complete the next, but that was not the case here. While a comprehensive approach is preferable, Arnold said that building maintenance could not stop in the hope that money for broad improvements would become available.

``I'm just frustrated, Mr. Arnold,'' Guy said. ``I know you don't turn an ocean liner on a dime, but at some point you start turning the wheel.'' Middle school report

The board was told an evaluation of the middle school program in the city would be coming later in the spring. K. Edwin Brown, assistant superintendent for the department of accountability, explained the process used to evaluate the schools, which serve sixth through eighth grades. Board members asked that additional people be surveyed, which will delay the report.

In addition, Brown presented the board with a manual for site-based management and strategic planning to be used by the schools. Since the division went to site-based management several years ago, there has been a growing concern over the lack of consistency in decision-making and school policies. The manual is intended to help address some of those concerns.

``Site based management was a good idea, but it was out of control,'' said board member Rosemary Wilson. ``It looks like you've put control back into it.''

Diversity forum, training

The division will hold its second diversity awareness forum May 14 at 7 p.m. at Princess Anne High School, the board was told. The forum will begin with a presentation by Mary Montle Bacon, nationally recognized speaker and trainer on diversity issues. Her presentation will be followed by a period for public comments. Bacon will also do a workshop for principals and assistant principals the next day.

Some board member said they appreciated the committee's efforts but had concerns over the cost of the event. Bacon's fee for the forum and workshop is $4,000 not including travel expenses, and about 80,000 fliers were printed for the event. Money to cover the forum came from school administration accounts.

``I'd like to know what the total cost for this is and see if we can hold down that expense,'' board member Donald Bennis said.

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