THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 11, 1997 TAG: 9701110507
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 93 lines
Gov. George F. Allen said Friday that he will no longer be the only governor in the nation to turn down millions of dollars in federal education money from the Goals 2000 program.
After a two-year holdout that cost Virginia $8.4 million in aid, Allen said he has reached an understanding with federal officials that has persuaded him to apply for $14.9 million earmarked for Virginia through 1998.
The money could mean more than $1.5 million for computers for South Hampton Roads schools, according to state Sen. Stanley C. Walker, D-Norfolk.
``While I believe it's unfortunate that the governor's stance prior to today cost the state about $8.4 million, I believe his announcement today is a step in the right direction,'' Walker said.
Egged on by several conservative and evangelical groups, the Republican governor had argued that acceptance would expose Virginia public schools to greater federal control and burdensome paperwork. U.S. education officials countered that the money - aimed at improving schools - came without strings and that all Virginia had to do is file reports showing how it was spent.
What changed his mind, Allen said, was a letter this week from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., assuring him that Virginia could use the money solely to buy computers for classrooms.
The governor, who said he has been negotiating with U.S. education officials for more than a year, cited the letter as proof that he had won a showdown with Washington.
``Virginia can apply for the money on our terms,'' Allen said during a news conference. The state ``will not have to modify our standards of learning, assessments, accountability, curricula or other aspects of our Virginia education reforms.''
In South Hampton Roads, word of Allen's decision was greeted with excitement, even though some said they couldn't believe he had changed his mind.
``Incredible,'' said Mike Harkins, president of the Norfolk Council of PTAs. ``I never thought he'd accept it.''
The Council of PTAs had passed a resolution in favor of accepting Goals 2000 money, saying Virginia couldn't afford to reject money for education.
``When they've got the money to give us and we don't take it, I can't understand it, not when we're out here crying for more equipment, more programs, more technology,'' Harkins said. ``No matter what the money goes to, it's going to a good cause when you're talking about public education.''
State Democratic leaders charged that Allen simply was seeking a way out of an unpopular stand that was likely to hurt Republicans in statewide elections this fall. Virginia will elect a new governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates are up for grabs.
Democrats have argued that the Goals 2000 flap indicates that Allen and other Republican leaders are more concerned with conservative ideology than common sense.
Several Democrats noted that, in an Oct. 1 letter to U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb, D-Va., U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley gave assurances that Virginia could use the money solely for computers.
``I can't truly speculate why the governor has had a change of heart,'' said Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr., a Democrat. ``It may be that some members of his party were drifting away. I can't see any proof that anything changed.''
Allen said Lott's letter offers assurance that U.S. Republican leaders will stand by the state should the Clinton administration try to impose new conditions on acceptance of the money.
Despite the posturing, Democrats and Republicans expressed relief that the money finally would be coming to Virginia.
Last year, 95 of the 135 local school boards across the state unsuccessfully petitioned Allen to take the money.
And local officials said Friday that they'd be happy to get the money.
``We're appreciative of anything, greatly appreciative of any additional funding,'' said Thomas A. Cupitt, a spokesman for Chesapeake Public Schools, when he heard of the governor's change of mind. ``There aren't too many school systems that can ignore anything like that.''
Norfolk attorney Peter G. Decker Jr., the lone Democrat on the state Board of Education, celebrated Allen's turnabout. Decker has advocated taking the money, but the board, dominated by Allen's GOP appointees, has voted to oppose it.
Decker, whose term expires this month unless Allen chooses to reappoint him, said he viewed the governor's decision as a personal victory. The money could go far in providing technology to the state's most disadvantaged children.
``I couldn't have more happiness within me,'' Decker said. ``For each individual student who will have access to a computer who would not otherwise have had access, this seems to me a very large decision. This will make a big difference.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Gov. George F. Allen
Photo
Peter G. Decker
KEYWORDS: GOALS 2000