THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 23, 1996 TAG: 9604230346
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
The city schools Monday asked the City Council for an additional $1.2 million for maintenance, and the council began exploring ways for the schools to save money throughout the year.
School Superintendent Richard D. Trumble, his staff and board members met with the council to justify their budget and their need for an additonal $1.2 million for school maintenance. The council went round for round with Trumble - picking at the budget - before hitting on a couple of ideas that seemed to make everyone happy.
Mayor Gloria O. Webb said she wanted to see the city and schools work harder to consolidate services that could help save money. Councilman P. Ward Robinett suggested that for every dollar the schools saved the city might match with some city savings. The savings could be used to fund maintenance in the next year's Capital Improvements Plan.
Trumble liked the idea and said that he would have been satisfied just to be able to use whatever savings the schools have at the end of the year for maintenance.
Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons asked that a commission to plan consolidation services be formed immediately.
Nothing has been promised. But the council is supposed to approve both the capital improvements budget and the operating budget tonight at 7 p.m.
On another school matter, council candidates said they have been inundated with questions on the campaign trail about Portsmouth's inadequate vocational programs.
The city schools emphasize typing, keyboard training and office skills and do not offer any other job training. Portsmouth schools send eight students to a vocational training school in Norfolk.
``Using the keyboard as part of Vocational Education is ridiculous when you're trying to provide skills to kids who can't academically function,'' Clemons told Trumble. ``They need HVAC, plumbing, electronics - real skills they can use in a trade.''
Councilman Bernard D. Griffin blamed the lack of vocational education for the kids who skipped school or hung out on the streets during the day.
``Many more than just eight kids would like to be involved in those hands-on training programs,'' Griffin said. ``But they don't have a choice in participating in an industrial arts program versus a business class.''
Trumble said the School Board has also heard citizens complain and they are looking toward designing an on-the-job training program through the school system.
In other budget matters, Robinett asked Deputy City Manager Johnna Whitaker to help the city reduce the stormwater rates by by about 20 percent. The change would force the city to find $500,000 to cover the cost of various projects.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL BUDGET PORTSMOUTH CITY
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