DATE: Thursday, November 6, 1997            TAG: 9711060468

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   55 lines

NORFOLK AIMS TO GUARANTEE GRADUATES' SKILLS

Students will one day graduate satisfaction guaranteed: If businesses hire them and they can't do the work, the schools will retrain graduates.

The plan is one of a few Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. shared with a crowd of more than 100 during the ``State of the Schools'' address Wednesday before the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.

The address allows school superintendents to meet with businessmen, share information about their school systems and encourage partnerships with the business community. ``As each of you realize,'' Nichols said. ``It's vital for the area to have an educated population to attract new businesses and improve our local economy.''

Dennis Reid, who owns a small printing company in Norfolk, said he's wasted too much time in the past retraining hires on basic skills such as using a cash register and keeping track of inventory.

A diploma guarantee, coupled with a higher academic bar, definitely would improve an applicant's chances of succeeding in his business, he said.

``I like the idea that the school system is recognizing that they have an obligation to get students ready to work after school.''

One of Norfolk's biggest priorities has been increasing academic standards. While standardized test scores and attendance have improved, the 36,000-plus student district has further to go, Nichols said. He detailed some past and future steps along that path.

Norfolk eliminated its general diploma last year to push students to take more demanding courses. Norfolk's Quality Schools Initiative gives schools more autonomy and resources to improve student achievement, such as raising test scores. Teachers and school officials are also held accountable if they aren't successful. They could be reassigned or lose their jobs.

Nichols also laid out plans that would begin even before children begin school. Many school officials want to get books to parents just days after their children are born.

They also want to form a community-relations group, the Friends of Norfolk Public Schools, in which supporters, including past board members and alumni, would become ambassadors and promote the district.

Talk of the high school diploma guarantee comes as the state's public schools have been criticized for graduating students unprepared for life after school.

Recent state figures show that 30 percent of South Hampton Roads' high school students had to take remedial classes at state-supported two- and four-year colleges in 1995-96. Norfolk's rate was 33.9 percent.

``When our students receive a high school diploma, it means they are educated,'' Nichols said. ``If our `guaranteed' graduate needs more school, we'll provide it free of charge. . . . Our mission is to prepare students for the workplace or to further their education.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Norfolk schools Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. discussed his

plans with business leaders on Wednesday.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu