THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410220172
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
WALKING DISTANCE: The board voted 4-3 to postpone a decision to change the district's elementary school walking-distance policy.
Elementary students who live within a mile of their school presently walk to school - if the path doesn't include any type of hazard, such as a railroad crossing.
Over the years, however, the policy wasn't uniformly applied to all students.
The administration wants to change the distance to a half mile beginning in the 1995-1996 school year, when community elementary schools will be in place.
Because community schools will allow students to attend schools closer to home, fewer students will need to be bused to school unless they choose to attend an out-of-zone school under the open enrollment plan.
Board member Lawrence W. I'Anson Jr. asked the board to delay the decision until the district had a better idea of how many elementary students would choose to attend different schools under open enrollment.
CONTRACT AWARDED: The board voted unanimously to grant Brown Building Corp. of Virginia Beach a $164,000 contract to renovate the athletic team locker room and former weight room at Hunt-Mapp Middle School.
The areas will be converted into a student health center and administrative office for Phyllis Bricker, the district's medical services supervisor.
During the past school year, the district and the city's health department earned a two-year state grant to create a school-based health center, which primarily will serve needy children from across the city.
The center, scheduled to open in January, will offer basic medical services - such as blood pressure screenings, immunizations and pre-school examinations.
The fees will be set on a sliding scale.
I'Anson expressed a concern about the center's chances for survival if state funds dwindle or run out.
Bricker, who expects many parents to take advantage of the center, said additional grant money is still being sought.
WHITAKER REPLACEMENT IS HIRED: The School Board gave the nod Thursday to the administration's selection of Pam J. Parker to replace Johnna R. Whitaker as assistant director of business affairs.
Whitaker accepted a job as the city's chief financial officer in September.
Parker, a certified public accountant now living in Atlanta, will join the school district on Nov. 1.
She will work under business affairs director James Roberts.
Her annual salary is $52,980.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD
by CNB