Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 13, 1993 TAG: 9303130079
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
COUNCIL, SCHOOL OFFICIALS PONDER TECHNOLOGY VS. PAY INCREASES
City Council members and school officials debated bigger teachers' salaries vs. better teaching technology. It was a draw, at least for now.The issue arose Wednesday night after Councilman Gary Weddle cited figures suggesting that Radford's teachers were among the highest paid west of Richmond. The School Board has proposed increasing faculty pay an average of 4 percent, including a salary-scale adjustment.
But Weddle said city teachers already average more than $33,670 a year, and he'd like to see more money going for computers and other educational technology.
School Board member Betty Plott defended the pay request.
"There's nothing going to be as close to students as teachers. If you're going to keep good teachers, you're going to have to pay them," she said.
School Board member Carter Effler credited the city's teachers for Radford students' performances at or near the top in standardized testing, including the mandatory Literacy Passport test.
But Weddle maintained that city teachers already are doing well enough, and said he'd feel "more comfortable" putting the extra dollars into instructional equipment and computer technology.
Guy Gentry, board vice-chairman and member of the Technology Committee, said the board wants "results-oriented technology." He recommended that the schools tread carefully and not "throw dollars at technology" without first studying how it will improve learning.
"We're looking at delivery of education first," Gentry said.
Superintendent Michael Wright agreed.
"We don't want computers just to have them," he said.
Wright also fended off a suggestion that the board save money by doing away with the assistant superintendent's position. It was vacated when Virginia East resigned in January after her arrest on federal counterfeiting charges. He said the central office staff already was small enough.
"If we have any fewer people, it's going to be tough," he said.
Board member Betty Plott, a retired Pulaski county school administrator, described the central office contingent as "a skeleton staff" compared with Pulaski County's and other surrounding school divisions.
In another matter, Wright also predicted that the Coalition for Equity in Educational Funding would prevail in its lawsuit against the state to force more funds for poorer school districts.
"We don't know what the judicial system will do with this, but we know we're right," Wright said.
The School Board is proposing a nearly $7.6-million school budget for 1993-94. The city's share would come to a little over $4 million, down about $120,500 from this year's local contribution, which included almost $500,000 for an addition to Radford High School.
City Council heard another salary-increase request from Welfare Department Director Suzanne Glass. Saying her department is working with "half the staff we should have," Glass asked council to consider a 5-percent pay increase for her department's four eligibility workers to $17,535. The increase would cost the city about $8,650 a year.
The Virginia General Assembly approved modest, across-the-board raises, plus additional money for her department's two social workers, but no extra money for other employees.
Glass said the social workers will get $19,500 next year, with 80 percent of that funded by the state.
Even so, Glass was apologetic.
"I know how you feel about taking over the state's responsibility. I understand that," she said.