THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, October 15, 1996             TAG: 9610150267
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT 
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   46 lines

WARD SAYS HE SPEAKS FOR SCHOOLS, AGAINST VOUCHERS

Mike Ward, Democratic candidate for state superintendent of instruction, came to Pasquotank County Monday applauding public schools and decrying public funding of vouchers.

Ward spoke and answered questions before a group of teachers and administrators at Central Elementary School after meeting with the media.

``I think we have to reserve taxpayers money for public schools,'' said Ward. ``Vouchers are a bad idea.''

Ward's Republican opponent, Vernon Robinson, supports vouchers and was instrumental in getting the Charter School law passed, both alternatives to public schools.

Ward said he believes in public schools, but with fewer regulations to burden the local systems.

``My focus is on public schools,'' said Ward. ``We must reduce the rules and regulations on the backs of the local districts. Raleigh ought to be concerned with results and not micromanaging how it's done.''

Ward, Robinson and the Natural Law candidate, Starr von Stade, are vying for the office currently held by Bob Etheridge who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2nd District.

Ward has worked his way up through the ranks of education. He is the director of the N.C. Standards Board for Public School Administration. He was superintendent for Granville County Schools, where he was North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. He was principal at South Granville High School, and was chosen district principal of the Year.

Ward said his style of leadership is by consensus. He plans to appoint advisory groups from among teachers, parents and businessmen.

``I don't think one person is smart enough,'' said Ward. ``It is not my vision as much as it is a collective vision.''

Ward proposes to make schools safer and offer alternatives of a ``quality nature'' for students who do not follow the rules. He also plans to raise standards for academic achievement especially in reading, writing and math.

``If they do not show proficiency, you don't move to the next level,'' he said.

Ward began his career as a teacher and coach. ``We want to recruit, retain and reward our good teachers,'' he said. ``Teachers come into the profession with a missionary zeal. I think we can do better than missionary pay.''

North Carolina ranks 38th in the nation in average teacher's salaries. A beginning teacher starts at $21,000. by CNB