The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 1

Governor's budget draws criticism, A3 FTH Daily Mew Serving Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County 50 cents HE ramp goves Va- setooll standards a -pta Friday January 7, 2000 110th Year, No. 6 Inside Today 1 demic standards with strong school accountability systems," the report's authors said. Virginia has mediocre standards but a strong accountability plan, according to the foundation. "The shocking news is that 11 years after governors embraced the standards-and-accountability strategy most states have not successfully completed even the first step," said Fordham Foundation President Chester E. Finn who was an assistant secretary of education in the Reagan administration.

"Their standards are mediocre or state and the foundation. He said Virginia has taken a broad, conceptual approach to its science standards, while the foundation prefers "a more technical and very specific approach on an item-by-item basis." Finn said the report is not meant to "trash" the standards-based reform movement but to encourage states to redouble their efforts. Gerald W. Bracey, an education researcher, said the foundation's rankings are useless because they do not consider student achievement He noted that the five states that ranked highest in worse. Virginia got an A in history standards, a in English and math and a in geography and science.

The foundation said Virginia placed geography "in a supporting role" in its history standards, and it said the science standards lack "examples of how the student might demonstrate mastery of a topic." Kirk T. Schroder, president of the Virginia Board of Education, told The Washington Post that Virginia scored low in geography and science mostly because of philosophical differences between the The Scores Virginia got an A in history standards, a in English and math and a in geography and science. schools and their students. Most states have weak standards and poorly designed plans for holding schools responsible for meeting those standards, the report says. Only five states Alabama, California, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas combine "solid aca Diverging philosophies caused scores, says official The Associated Press Virginia's public school standards received an overall grade of C-plus in a report issued Thursday by a conservative foundation that promotes education reform.

The Washington-based Thomas B. Fordham Foundation rated each state's program to raise academic expectations for public Republican nZ candidates spar before debate 1 I ImiimimmiIiii Mnnnl IT TmmmZImImMI1 Mike TrippThe Daily News Leader Jamie Huggins taps ball. R.E. Lee ladies sweep rivals from Waynesboro Details on Page B1 YVa A Mike TrippThe Daily News Leader From left, Jean, Lisa, and Jessica Berry head toward their car outside Rack Sack grocery store Thursday. The store is slated to close.

Rack Sack stores to close Shenandoah Shakespeare opens 2000 season Details on Page B5 Happening Today Series offered FISHERSVILLE The ninth season of the free community education series continues with "Life in the '90s," at 7 tonight in the Community Care Building, first floor, Room 2, across from the Augusta Medical Center. Carolyn Marion, a licensed professional counselor with Valley Community Services Board, will present "Helping your Adolescent Manage their Anger." Seniors gather STAUNTON The Staunton Senior Center, for members aged 60 and older, meets from 8:30 a.m. to 1 :30 p.m. today at the Memorial Baptist Church, 224 Taylor St. For transportation in Staunton, call 886-4634 or 885-2154.

Volunteers are heeded to deliver home-bound meals. Activities today: banking and shopping at Terry Court Shopping Center, members only; bingo Republican presidential candidate Gov. George W. Bush; Teft, gestures toward Sen. John McCain, of Arizona, as Gary Bauer, center, listens while they wait for the start of their debate Thursday at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H.

Bush swears oath to eut taxes the Fordham report are among the lowest-scoring on student tests such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Finn said the report was not intended to measure current student performance but to examine whether states are laying a good foundation for improvement. "If a state has really good standards and a really good accountability model, they've got a pretty good chance of having better student achievement tomorrow," Finn said. Farm Fresh Facts Rack Sack stores had been part of giant SuperValu a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Minnesota. SuperValu Is the nation's largest food distributor and the 10th largest supermarket retailer, with sales of $17 billion.

Farm Fresh format, while selling others, according to industry reports. "I wondered what was going on," said Adeline Hull of Highland County. "I could not find any bananas today." Farm Fresh had been the second largest supermarket chain in southeastern Virginia when Richmond-based Richfood, its wholesale supplier, bought the chain after Fresh Food declared bankruptcy in 1998. SuperValu Inc. then bought Richfood last year for $1.5 billion.

had been competing with expanding local Kroger and Food Lion operations and "super" retail stores with groceries. Dennis said his company will help workers seek jobs in Hampton Roads area stores. "We want to help, but we also understand that some may not want to leave the area," Dennis said. "We appreciate their loyalty over the years." they discussed a judging process they say is tainted by money, politics and ulterior motives. "It's political corruption Please see STATE SONG, back page this section The Associated Press The Associated Press Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes gestures as he answers a question.

and the rest of the campaign agenda, the latest GOP debate between Bush, John McCain, Steve Forbes, Gary Bauer, Orrin Hatch and Alan Keyes was much like the three they'd had before. Bush skipped three earlier debates. "George, since you joined us, it's gotten a lot more nasty, I'll tell you," said Hatch. fit 1 I Sites deemed unprofitable for Farm Fresh By David Nivens Staff Writer STAUNTON Amanda Lilly will have to go somewhere else soon to find her specials on Dr. Pepper.

Farm Fresh Inc. announced Thursday that it will close its Rack Sack stores in Staunton and Harrisonburg by Jan. 22. The closings will idle 38 Staunton workers. The closing news was fresh Thursday for many shoppers.

"I liked coming here for those specials," Ms. Lilly, of Staunton, said while loading groceries into her car in the parking lot of the Statler Boulevard store. The stores are operated by Farm Fresh headquartered in Norfolk. The company also operates the local Farmco Drug stores. "We have not been able to maintain the profitability of these stores," said Ronald E.

Dennis, Farm Fresh president. "We have decided to exit the format. Our other operations are too far removed from that part of the state." Rack Sack traded on the discount theme, offering groceries of many brands. The 40-year-old Farm Fresh chain has been upgrading some R8iS stores to the more upscale Z7Y" News Analysis family political pledge, delivered Thursday night: "This is not only no new taxes, this is tax cuts, so help me God." Bush made his vow in debate with his five rivals for the Republican presidential nomination. He was promoting his $483 billion, five-year tax cut proposal.

"I'm governor of a state that I took the same message to our people," Bush said. "I've worked with Democrats and Republicans alike to cut the taxes in Texas, twice." But he couldn't get all he proposed in Texas. And his debate rivals said Bush also proposed increasing sales and other taxes as part of a package with property tax reductions. And no president can guarantee a tax cut. Congress decides that.

So the Bush line could echo past the campaign for the Republican presidential greatest rock songs in a VH1 poll of 700 people in the music industry. The 1965 song about rock's favorite subject sex has one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in music. Keith Richards said it came to him one night while he was sleeping. "It kind of sticks up as an anthem for the time it was released and for every gen-Please tee TOP LIST, back page this section A 7T TP nomination. "If anybody knows the risk of making that pledge.

Governor Bush does," said Steve Duprey, the New Hampshire Republican chairman. He watched the no-tax pledge boost Bush campaign in 1988. But as president, Bush reneged. In 1990, he said there would have to be "tax revenue increases" as part of a deal with Congress to reduce the federal budget deficit. Conservatives never let him forget it.

During his losing campaign for re-election, the elder Bush said breaking the tax commitment was his worst mistake. Bush and rival John McCain bickered about their tax plans. McCain said Bush's proposal would spend the entire surplus. "No it doesn't," retorted the Texas governor. "Yes it does," shot back McCain.

On taxes, social security Mike TrippThe Daily News Leader Bob Campbell strums out the notes of a state song entry In this file photo of Dec. 20,1998. eft pledge resonates menacingly By Walter R. Mears AP Special Correspondent DURHAM. N.H.

George W. Bush went his father one better and swore an oath to cut taxes "so help me God" a vow that could haunt him should he follow his father into the White House. A no-tax pledge helped President Bush get there, but he broke it and lost the next election." And keeping a vow to cut taxes would be even more difficult; presidents can't do that without Congress. The 1988 campaign promise of the elder Bush was that he would veto a tax increase should the Democratic Congress try to impose one. "Read my hps: No new taxes," he pledged to tell them.

Gov. Bush's version of the Weather Sunshine will mix with some patchy, clouds today. Highs 46-51 Mostly clear and cold tonight. Lows 20-25. Sunshine and a few clouds Saturday.

Highs 44-48. Details, Page A10 Still not satisfied song of millennium CBS to air news program about state song grievance Index Abby A8 Etc Classifieds Financial A9 C1-8 Local Comics B7 Obituaries A2 CrosswordC2 Religion B9 A4 B1 -4 Our commitment: We correct all errors of fact as soon as we learn of them. Corrections and our policy run daily on Page A2. Copyright 2000 The Daily News Leader. Republication without permission prohibited.

Applying Pressure Bob Campbell hopes to write a book about the struggle to inform the public and plans to launch a bumper sticker campaign with the slogan "Right the Wrong for the Virginia State Song." Rolling Stones top VHl's rock list of the greatest The Associated Press NEW YORK Every air guitarist knows the riff da, da, da-da-da, da-da-da and anyone who has ever been a teen-ager can relate to the lyrics. The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction-topped the list of the 100 Campbell and three others were interviewed By Kristie DiSalvo Staff Writer STAUNTON Bob Campbell's cry for a fair and honest state song com-petition will be heard around the country as CBS broadcasts a segment on gripes about the process. It's scheduled to run 6:30 We print using at least 25 recycled paper fiber and earth tonight on the Evening News with Dan Rather. Campbell and three other songwriters cut from the final rounds of song selections were interviewed by CBS reporters earlier this week. Together, friendly soy color Jnks..