DATE: Wednesday, July 16, 1997              TAG: 9707160469

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   56 lines

KEEP OUR TEACHERS, TEARFUL PARENTS ASK BEACH OFFICIALS BOARD SAYS THE DOZEN OR SO TRANSFERS AREN'T PUNITIVE, BUT SUPPORTERS WONDER.

Parents, students and others turned out in force Tuesday evening to speak in support of more than a dozen educators who are being involuntarily transferred to different schools this fall.

While the division's administration says the transfers are not punitive, supporters of the teachers involved say the action is in retribution for their speaking out against their former principal or, in one case, for speaking on behalf of a colleague facing termination.

Eight of the teachers are from Pembroke Elementary School, six are from Glenwood and one is from Trantwood.

For more than 90 minutes, speakers tried to convince the board that the staff members should remain at their respective schools and that keeping them there would be in the best interest of students.

Wearing buttons and carrying signs, the group filled the boardroom and overflowed into the hallway. In some cases, the speakers were moved to tears as they offered stories of how these teachers have touched their lives.

``The only thing these teachers are guilty of is putting the welfare of our children and our school first,'' said Pembroke parent Mary Breeden.

Brenda Herdman said she understood transfers as a military wife. In this case, however, she said the moves would hurt kids.

``All of the teachers you have listed as transfers are important to our school. They are family to us,'' she said.

``Do not allow this family to be torn apart. Please don't take them away from my children and all the children of Pembroke.''

In a statement before the public comment period began, Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney said the administration's decision ``is in no way vindictive.''

The move will provide an ``opportunity for renewal'' and a fresh start.

``Change is not comfortable,'' he said. ``But change is a catalyst for a continuous improvement model in education.''

Many in the audience didn't accept that explanation. They praised the teachers for their performance and extraordinary contributions to the schools.

And they said that a chilling effect would occur that would fuel gossip while quelling open discussion and communication.

Virginia Beach Education Association President Melody Copper urged the board to ``look beyond this as a one-time decision. Your employees are watching to see if colleagues are punished for using the system appropriately.''

Jenney has the right to make such staff transfers without board approval. Board members planned to discuss the matter in their closed session Tuesday night, but no action was announced by late evening.

Some school administrators have said privately that those teachers involved in the transfers have formed a clique that would make it difficult for the incoming principals to succeed.

Supporters of the staff members said, however, that effective principals would have no problem leading the schools and would build on the strength already there.

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