Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 5, 1990 TAG: 9004041083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Superintendent Michael Wright said a letter this week from Pulaski County Superintendent James Burns prompted him to put the issue on the agenda.
Burns said this week he was "urging their board to not close their eyes and ears to this because it will be a very exciting opportunity."
The Radford board voted unanimously in February not to send students to the magnet school, citing a lack of details about the school's curriculum and future funding.
"Those are the two big considerations," said board Vice Chairman Guy Gentry, who represents Radford schools on the Challenger School's governing board. "We really didn't know what we were buying."
The Radford board left $17,500 in its budget intended to send seven gifted and talented high school juniors to the magnet school, but plans to use the money to beef up its own gifted-and-talented offerings.
"We might be able to do something more for students on our own, perhaps with cooperation from Radford University," Gentry said. "There are certain areas that remain untapped. I like the [magnet school] concept. I wish it had been further along when we considered it."
Another problem with the Challenger School is its Pulaski County location. Gentry said the school originally was supposed to be "on or near the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg. That whet our appetite to begin with."
He characterized Burns' letter as an effort to offer "a little additional information," but "I don't know that anything will change. There's always the possibility."
Gentry predicted his colleagues would not change their minds.
"If we saw more specifics [that were] head and shoulders above what we're already offering, then we'd be open for reconsideration," he said. "I would say that they would probably feel - unless there were more information available this month - that they would not vote any differently."
After the board's February decision, it was reported that some Radford parents contacted Burns' office to ask about paying tuition. But Gentry and Wright said no Radford parents had contacted them.
Burns conceded that school systems with close university connections would have problems with the Pulaski County location. Montgomery County schools also have decided against sending students to the magnet school.
But he said the magnet school also "will have those close ties with the higher education community" and he expected the program to include the resources of Radford University and Virginia Tech.
"Every one of the participating school districts has asked for more seats," he said.
by CNB