Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 15, 1990 TAG: 9006150496
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MARGARET CAMLIN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The board also voted to change its drug policy to include steroids. If students are caught possessing or distributing anabolic steroids and other illegal drugs they likely will be expelled.
As usual, the board began with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance. But this time, Chairwoman Irene Kegley prayed for guidance for Burns and for the board in its search for a new superintendent.
Burns' last day for the school system is June 22. He will move to Columbus, Ga. shortly thereafter to begin a new job as superintendent for Muscogee County.
Burns will receive the $9,500 tax-sheltered annuity promised in his four-year contract, according to Ronald Chaffin, vice chairman.
The board has advertised with the Virginia School Board Association, two national publications and will accept applications for the job until June 29.
When discussing the cost of hiring a consultant to update the policy manual, Kegley quipped: "If Dr. Burns was still here we could use him and take it off his salary."
Burns quickly retorted: "You'll have some extra money in the budget" since one person will be doing two jobs for several months. Burns was referring to Assistant Superintendent Phyllis Bishop, who will be interim superintendent.
In March, state Department of Education representatives visited the school system and found it was not meeting requirements to keep its policy manual up to code.
Also at the meeting, the education association's new president, Don Skeen, thanked the board for "empowering" some teachers this year to revise their curricula and make other program changes.
But the layoff of teachers "has caused tremendous morale problems throughout the system," Skeen said.
And transfers of at least 10 teachers to new departments or schools have also generated complaints and concerns, he said.
In other business, the board:
Approved the receipt of $527,189 in federal money for Chapter 1, a remedial reading program. The money will fund programs at seven schools for students in grades two through eight. In addition, Pulaski Middle School will acquire a computer assisted instruction lab with eight terminals.
Approved a 10-cent increase for school meals. Lunch for children at elementary schools will be $1.05 and at middle and high schools $1.10. Breakfast will cost 70 cents and milk 30.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on June 16, 1990 in the New River edition\ Correction
Because of a reporter's error, a story Friday about the Pulaski County School Board meeting gave the wrong day. The meeting was Thursday night.
Memo: correction