THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510140122
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Here's a brief look at some of the action taken at Thursday's School Board meeting:
In response to concerns raised by board member Clarice C. Johnson, the board directed the administration to review the policy on granting zone waivers, which allow students to attend schools beyond their designated zones. The board also told Superintendent Joyce Trump to consider putting the lid on zone waiver approvals for an unspecified period of time.
The administration will respond in a December report.
The district's current policy allows parents to receive zone waivers for their children if:
A student has a medical condition that can't be ``reasonably accommodated'' at the zoned school.
A student needs special instruction or services that aren't ``reasonably available'' at the zoned school.
The board thinks requiring a student to attend the zoned school would be ``reasonably injurious'' to the student's health, safety or normal development.
Enrollment growth has made it hard to absorb out-of-zone students at several schools, Johnson said. She also urged Trump to consider telling parents whose kids now attend schools beyond their zones that their zone request may be scrutinized more closely in the 1996-97 year.
The district's Sept. 30 enrollment of 10,090 was nearly 5 percent higher than at the same time last year. Board appoints instructional specialist
The board appointed Charlene E. Christian as an instructional specialist. She primarily will be responsible for coming up with initiatives to improve academic achievement among minority students.
Last summer, a district task force that studies academic achievement among minority students urged the School Board to create such a position.
Christian, whose parents are retired Suffolk educators, has been the head counselor at Forest Glen Middle since 1990. Roofing projects near completion
Four of five roofing projects are near completion, two construction consultants told the board Thursday.
Projects at Kilby Shores, Nansemond Parkway and Elephant's Fork elementary schools should be wrapped up this coming week, they said. Roof work on the Head Start building, located on the John F. Kennedy Middle School campus, also is scheduled for completion next week.
Roof work at Forest Glen Middle will be completed in two to three weeks, they said.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK SCHOOL BOARD by CNB