Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409020083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Most believe that a longer school day and school year might have merit but oppose tuition tax credits for children who select a private school.
Some said the proposed reforms reflect the politically conservative agenda of the Allen administration on such issues as school choice, longer probationary period for teachers, competency guarantees and an end to "social promotions."
And some doubt that school systems can guarantee the competency of their graduates.
Roanoke Superintendent Wayne Harris questioned the benefit of mandatory school uniforms.
"I think that would be a step back to the 1940s and conflict with the trend toward individuals' rights now," Harris said.
Proposed tuition tax credits for those who attend private schools would increase the gap between the "haves and have-nots," because disadvantaged parents could not afford to send their children to private schools, he said.
Roanoke County Superintendent Deanna Gordon said a longer school day and year would be desirable if the funds to pay the higher costs for teachers and utilities were available.
But Franklin County Superintendent Leonard Gereau said a longer day would be impractical in rural counties where the bus ride for some students is one hour and 20 minutes.
"The day is already long for some students and I don't know if they can be in school longer," he said.
Giles County Superintendent Robert McCracken said research shows that a longer school day and year would be beneficial, but finding the necessary funds is the problem.
McCracken said that tuition tax credits could siphon off funds for public schools.
``Those parents who can afford to send their children to private schools will leave us with those who can't and that puts us in the middle,'' he said.
Salem Superintendent Wayne Tripp said he believes Virginia's school divisions are doing a better job than they are given credit for.
Like the other superintendents, Tripp opposes tuition tax credits, saying they could undermine public schools by draining off more affluent and better students.
Virginia's largest teacher organization also opposes tax credits or vouchers for children to attend other schools.
``This is the most alarming and disturbing thing in the report,'' said Rob Jones, president of the Virginia Education Association.
Jones said there are now 74,000 children in private schools and about one million in public schools. If the tax credits are approved, he said many students in public schools might shift to private schools.
Proponents of the tax credits make a ``false economy'' argument that school systems could save money if some students transferred to private schools, Jones said.
But he said this would not reduce the school system's operating costs and would reduce state funds that are based on enrollment.
"A locality has to run the same schools, run the same buses and do the same things, so its costs don't decrease when students leave," he said.
School choice sounds good, but it is a hollow option when disadvantaged families cannot afford private schools even with the tax credit, he said. It is also meaningless for students with poor grades because the private schools will not accept them, Jones said.
Jones said he was disappointed that the commission did not deal with the issue of educational funding disparities. Many small rural counties say they need more state funds to provide the same level of education as in affluent and suburban counties.
The Virginia Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the state's funding formula, but the mostly rural counties will take their case to the General Assembly.
Staff writer Melissa DeVaughn contributed information to this story.
by CNB