THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 7, 1996 TAG: 9609070236
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 84 lines
Enrollment at the Literacy Center is down sharply from expectations, days after the School Board voted to continue the highly regarded remedial program at least another year.
Board members were told this week that more than 40 students were expected at the center. The Board voted against the administration's recommendation to close the center, opting instead to keep it open for this school year, make some administrative changes and re-evaluate the program later.
The 4-year-old center, widely regarded as a success, helps students pass the state Literacy Passport Test, which measures basic skills in reading, writing and math. Students are required to pass all three parts to graduate.
The center serves students who would be classified as high school freshmen if they'd passed the test, which is first given in the sixth grade.
As of Friday, 19 students were enrolled. The first day of classes for the center was Wednesday, the day after they began for the rest of the district.
Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney said central office staff members have been calling parents to tell them they had the option of having their child attend their home high school - the school they would attend if they'd passed the Literacy Passport Test - instead of the center. Administrators at the home schools also have been calling parents, he said. Twenty-two students opted to stay at their home schools, did not return to school or could not be located, Jenney said.
But some parents say they felt district staff members discouraged them from sending their children to the center. Susan DeMayo said she was told this week that her son would be better served at his home high school.
``I just wish that they had determined he would better served by Cox before today,'' she said. DeMayo said she wondered if ``maybe it's their little way to try to dismantle this program.''
Another parent who asked that her name not be used said she had found it difficult to get information about where her son should report and was surprised and confused when she was told he could return to his home school.
``I wonder if the (center) will be able to offer the same program it had before,'' she said.
While students were given a choice, Jenney said there was no intention to dissuade them from attending the Literacy Center. But he also said that there may have been a gap between what was intended and what was perceived. ``When you have 15 or more individuals involved in the communication of our message, I don't think there's any question some of that could have been misperceived,'' he said.
Delceno C. Miles, vice chairwoman of the School Board, said she expected the enrollment numbers to increase now that the board has voted to continue the program for the year. ``The numbers may be down just because of the uncertainty'' over the center's future, she said.
Board member Daniel J. Arris said he was satisfied with the superintendent's assurances that eligible students who want to go to the Literacy Center will be allowed to attend it and that no principals were told to pressure families to keep students in their home schools.
``When the top dog says to me that message did not go out . . . I've got to believe him until I hear differently,'' Arris said.
Of the 19 students who enrolled this year, Jenney said, 10 had taken the test again during the summer and would have the option of returning to their home high schools if they passed. Results are expected in a few weeks.
In late August, word spread that the Literacy Center was to be closed. Because of the small number of students served, Jenney felt the school system could save money by working with the students at their home schools.
Teachers at the center began packing, and some were interviewed for other jobs in the division.
Parent Jackie Rosendahl said she had been told last month ``that the school had closed'' and was encouraged to enroll her son in the high school he would normally attend.
``I chose not to do it until a decision was made. I felt if all the parents did that, then the school would close,'' she said.
As it turned out, a public hearing was required before the center could be closed. After about a dozen speakers appeared during the hearing and considerable discussion between board members and staff, the board voted 8-3 to keep the program. Even the three members who voted against the motion said they supported the center, but were concerned that the principal at Kemps Landing Magnet School must now assume responsibilities for the center as well.
Board chairman Robert F. Hagans said he would place the center on the agenda for the board's next meeting.
``The situation is being reviewed,'' Hagans said. ``We're concerned about the numbers dropping.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney said parents were told their
children could attend their regular schools. by CNB