INFORMATIONAL

On April 20, 1999, we were pleased to announce the 
establishment of five new Governor's Best Practice Centers 
to provide direct assistance to Virginia public schools, as 
proposed and approved through Governor Jim Gilmore's budget 
for 2000-2001.  With the establishment of these new 
centers, there will be a total of eight regional centers 
that will give public schools local and regional access to 
Department of Education resources and personnel committed 
to responding to local needs.

We are now recruiting for the directors of these centers 
and ask your assistance in sharing this information with 
potential applicants.  Positions are available in 
Farmville, Winchester, Bowling Green, Chesterfield, and 
Chatham.  We expect the new centers to be operational by 
September 1, 1999.  Recruitment for the specialist 
positions will be announced within the next two weeks.

Enclosed are copies of the press release announcing the 
establishment of the centers and the recruitment notice.  
Recruitment for these positions ends May 7, 1999.  I 
appreciate your assistance in helping us to identify the 
best possible candidates for these positions so that we can 
provide high quality assistance to you and your schools.  
My staff and I look forward to working with you in this 
important endeavor.  For further information contact Mrs. 
M. Jo Bunce, assistant superintendent for best practice at 
(804) 786-0581.

PDS:cle

Enclosures:     A hard copy of this memo and its attachment
                will be sent to the superintendent's office.