DATE: Wednesday, October 22, 1997           TAG: 9710220513

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   73 lines

BEACH SCHOOLS ON WATCH FOR RACE BIAS DISTRICT TACKLES DISCRIMINATION WITH HELP OF FEDERAL AGENCY

The school division plans to report student discipline information to the federal government over the next three years in response to a racial discrimination complaint filed a year ago with the Department of Education.

Although the division admitted no wrongdoing, it laid out a detailed plan to monitor data, review policies and regulations, and report information related to student discipline to the Office of Civil Rights. Officials have been advised that the plan will be approved.

``We know we have a problem,'' Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney said, referring to statistics that have shown African-American students are disciplined at a disproportionate rate. ``I think all of us in the community want to address it. But we need to know what it is and where it is.''

The agreement letter will allow the school division to gather more information and to better address problem areas as needed, said Jenney. In the past, the district had not kept detailed discipline figures, so it could not respond to or refute the complaint. The district already has begun compiling the numbers, and a detailed analysis of the 1996-97 figures will be released today.

``The collection of good clear data over time allows us to effect change where and with whom we need to,'' Jenney said Tuesday afternoon. ``OCR in its wisdom has agreed with what our district wants to do.''

Jenney said the collection of more specific and longitudinal statistics related to discipline was key to the district's plans. Among other things, those statistics will pinpoint school staff who refer disproportionately high numbers of any group of students for discipline. They also will identify reasons for discipline, types of discipline and outcome.

News of the letter was greeted with cautious approval by some African-American parents.

``I didn't expect them to admit to anything. It's sort of like pleading no contest,'' said Brooke Anderson, the mother of three district students. ``I'm glad they'll take a look at themselves and make sure the punishment meted out is fair across the board regardless of race and gender.''

The Office of Civil Rights began its investigation after a complaint was filed by Curtis Harris, a Hopewell resident and president of the Virginia chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Harris alleged that black students were underrepresented in gifted and talented programs, were disproportionately disciplined and were discriminated against in their assignment to ability groups.

He charged that African-American teachers were neither hired nor promoted on a proportionate basis and were transferred inappropriately.

Harris could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Federal investigators notified school officials earlier this month that they had found insufficient evidence of discrimination in the areas of transfers and ability grouping to rule that a violation had occurred. No announcement on hiring or gifted selection has yet been made. A spokesman at the Department of Education said the division will be notified within days if the letter of agreement on the discipline complaint is acceptable.

In summer 1996, a group of African-American parents in the Beach had publicly expressed concerns similar to Harris', particularly with regard to discipline and the quality of education their children were receiving.

Mark Hayes, one of those parents, said he hoped the district was sincere in its agreement and that it was not a delaying tactic.

``If they're going to do that honestly, then I applaud it,'' he said. ``If it's a smoke screen, then I'm not for it. We will have to sit back and watch.'' ILLUSTRATION: Timothy R. Jenney

ENROLLMENT VS. DISCIPLINARY INCIDENTS

GRAPHIC

SOURCE: Virginia Beach Public Schools

The Virginian-Pilot

[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.] KEYWORDS: RACIAL DISCRIMINATION VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOLS

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