THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 10, 1997 TAG: 9701100499
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MATTHEW BOWERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 31 lines
The School Board, faced with overstuffed schools, more students on the way and an uncertain fiscal future, decided Thursday to form a task force to look into what the chairman calls ``unpleasant'' alternatives such as year-round schooling.
While the board expressed hope that the City Council would approve all or most of the board's plan for $128 million in construction over the next half-dozen years, no one knows if the construction would be soon enough - or even enough.
Chairman Mark A. Croston asked the board to suggest names at next month's meeting for a task force.
This group would explore such alternatives as sending students in shifts to schools year-round, conducting school in two shifts during the day, using non-school sites for classrooms, eliminating a favored program for at-risk 4-year-olds, and other options.
The school system, pushing close to 11,000 students, has added 1,100 in the past two years, and expects more of the same.
``When they come, we can't just set them out on the street or have them ride around on buses all day,'' Croston said.
Glum-looking board members agreed, although some hope to see how the City Council is leaning when the two bodies meet Wednesday.
``In any event, we do need a Plan B,'' said board member Frances Alwood.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK SCHOOL BOARD