Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 14, 1994 TAG: 9403140027
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In a turnaround from recent years, there has been no controversy over Roanoke's new school budget.
When the School Board approved the $73.4 million budget last week, no one complained or protested.
Superintendent Wayne Harris and the board have met most of their funding priorities in the budget, which is 5.9 percent larger than the current spending plan.
They plan to ask City Council for an additional $296,000 to hire more school nurses and guidance counselors for elementary schools, but they hope to avoid a confrontation over the issue.
Increased state funds and Harris' management style are cited by board members, teachers and others as the chief reasons for the peaceful budget deliberations this year.
Roanoke will benefit next year from $1.06 million in state disparity funds that will help reduce the spending gap between poor and rich school divisions.
During budget sessions in recent years, city and school officials have routinely criticized the state for failing to provide enough funds for schools, saying the city is forced to assume responsibility for a greater portion of the budget.
The situation is reversed this year.
The state will provide $3.1 million more for Roanoke's schools in the next year - a 9.9 percent increase in state aid.
But local funds for schools will increase by just $915,500, a 2.7 percent increase.
Wendy O'Neil, vice chairwoman of the board, said Harris' style of communicating and cooperating with others has helped prevent budget fights.
Harris held four neighborhood meetings with parents to get their views. The board also held two budget hearings.
In preparing the budget, Harris said he tried to take to heart the priorities of the board and community, for pay raises and more assistance for at-risk students.
"There is an increased spirit of cooperation and communication within the school system and the community," O'Neil said.
Linda Wyatt, a teacher and a candidate for City Council in the May election, said teachers believe the superintendent is making a sincere effort to upgrade salaries.
The budget provides an average raise of 4.6 percent for teachers, 3.4 percent for administrators and 4 percent for other school employees.
"Sure, we would have liked to have had a larger raise, but we are realistic," Wyatt said.
Teachers are encouraged by Harris' plan to increase salaries over the next three years, she said. "He seems to be making a good-faith effort to do that."
Gary Waldo, executive director of the Roanoke Education Association, said Harris seems more committed to pay raises for teachers than did his predecessor, Frank Tota.
"Tota never made quality compensation a priority - except for his own," Waldo said.
The School Board seems to be more sincere about providing fair salaries for teachers, he said.
"When you have both a superintendent and board pushing for quality compensation, it is encouraging," Waldo said.
Although the average raise for teachers will be 4.6 percent, some will receive smaller raises and others will get larger ones, he said.
"I think the REA and teachers are reserving their judgment now. They want to see how much political capital the superintendent and the School Board are willing to spend for higher salaries," Waldo said.
Board member Jay Turner said Harris has done a good job on his first budget since coming to Roanoke.
Harris has also received good marks from the Parent Teacher Association.
"He has done a splendid job of canvassing the PTA on what we wanted," said Marsha Ellison, president of the Central Council PTA. "He came to us and asked us what our priorities were."
Harris prepared a preliminary budget two months ahead of the customary schedule so that board members, parents and others would have more time to review and react to it.
by CNB