Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9511010040
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"I know without a doubt the school system's better than it was 15 years ago," Wright said at a recent candidate's forum in Bedford County, where School Board elections are being held for the first time.
"I don't think there's anything we need to hang our heads over in Bedford County," agreed Hunter Hale, a former School Board member who's running to regain his seat. "I think Bedford County schools are the best-kept secret in the area."
Hale, Wright, incumbent Chairman Benny Shrader and first-time candidate Eugene Erb all point out Bedford County's successes. The school system has the lowest dropout rate in the region, for example, and its administrative costs are the lowest in Virginia.
Seventy percent of funds are allocated for instruction. Bedford County students received more than $1 million in college scholarships last year.
But their opponents are a lot less happy about the state of Bedford County schools.
Asked by a resident about her position on a longer school year, candidate Betty Earle said, "As it stands now, I'm hard pressed to say I want my child there year-round."
Funded and supported by a vocal group of parents and teachers called Citizens Who Care, Earle and candidates Wesley Gordon, Stanley Butler and incumbent Shirley McCabe are upset about below-average scores on standardized tests and what they see as a loss of voice for teachers and parents under the administration of Superintendent John Kent.
At one of its meetings, the group discussed methods of removing school superintendents and what it would cost the school system to terminate Kent's contract.
At a debate, Shrader explained the School Board's decision to include health care for Kent's ex-wife in Kent's employment contract.
Butler, his opponent, shot back. "Personally, I'd like [Shrader] to negotiate my contract. I work at Piedmont Label, and there's no president or vice president there who has his ex-wife's insurance paid for. We pay for our own."
The Citizens Who Care candidates also are angry about the school system's low per-pupil spending.
In all the races, a clear line has been drawn between those who want change and those who think the county is moving in the right direction.
Here are some of the issues the candidates are talking about:
Outcome-based education.
Shrader, Wright, Hale and Erb generally say they don't support outcome-based education, which some say stresses self-esteem over education. They also don't think it's practiced in county schools, some of which have won state awards.
But the candidates endorsed by Citizens Who Care say that teaching methods used in many county schools are identical to outcome-based education.
County middle school classes predominantly don't use textbooks, for example. Instead, they use other sources such as newspapers or visual media. Teachers prepare their curriculums in teams. And "grading is not used as a motivational tool" in the middle schools, according to Kent.
That philosophy is met with heavy skepticism from some School Board candidates.
"I think we've lowered the bar," Gordon said. "I think we expect too little, and we're not pushing our children."
McCabe, who recently retired after more than 30 years as a teacher and guidance counselor, said: "Working with seniors, I've been seeing the end products ... What did I see? Low SAT scores, and no national finalists on National Merit. I would like to return to traditional basic education."
Teacher morale and accessibility.
"There is a teacher morale problem in Bedford County," Earle said. "Teachers are selective in what they say. Parents have to work to get answers because the teachers are afraid of reprisals" from the administration.
Erb, her opponent, agrees that teachers and parents need greater accessibility to the School Board.
Generally, Shrader, Hale and Wright praise teachers for their performance and say there isn't a big morale problem. They also say they wish more parents would talk to the board.
McCabe and Butler voice similar opinions to Earle, saying parents have to jump through too many hoops to address the School Board, and teachers are pressured not to talk about problems.
Textbooks.
Citizens Who Care says textbooks are outdated and that students often don't have enough textbooks to take home at night.
Earle says one solution is to cut out site-based management, in which schools are allocated funds individually and principals decide how much to spend on textbooks and other expenses. Butler agrees that central purchasing is necessary, and he proposes a computerized inventory of what each class and each school have so deficiencies can be identified.
Shrader says some texts are old because the state has delayed setting standards that guide schools in purchasing textbooks. That also has created some supply-and-demand problems, he said.
As for returning to central purchasing, Shrader says he's against it, because of the cost of added staff and computers.
Construction spending.
Shrader, Wright and Hale use new school buildings as an example of how the School Board has effectively handled the county's population growth.
But their opponents say many of the schools have been built wastefully. They point to the new Montvale Elementary School under construction on U.S. 460. The school could have been built for less without frills such as a round wall and skylight, they say.
Butler says many of the schools are "architect's dreams." He and other opposition candidates say the school system needs a paid construction supervisor to eliminate waste.
Shrader says a construction supervisor would be too costly. He says the schools have plenty of oversight with architects and principals on site.
His side also points out that the new school cost $82.88 per square foot - well under the state average of $88.41 per square foot for school construction.
by CNB