The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of video monitoring devices (VMDs) in reducing incidents of student misbehavior on middle school buses. It was hypothesized that the presence of VMDs would decrease the frequency of behavioral problems encountered by school bus drivers, decrease the number of discipline referrals issued by the drivers, and improve the drivers’ perception of student behavior. The study utilized an experimental design with random assignment of drivers to treatment and control groups. These groups were formed from a population of 282 drivers who serve ten middle schools for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. In the summer of 1993, through a randomization procedure, VMDs were installed on 100 school buses to form the treatment group. The remaining 182 school buses did not receive installation and were designated as the control group. All drivers maintained a daily log of the number of discipline problems encountered on their routes for three 15-day intervals. Statistical analysis revealed a significantly lower number of problems in the treatment group. Secondary analysis indicated that the use of VMDs was ineffective on morning routes but effective on afternoon routes. Also, there was a significantly lower number of discipline problems in the treatment group regardless of the day of the week. As the drivers established rapport and control, both groups experienced a decline in the number of discipline problems throughout the experiment. The treatment group, however, recorded a significantly lower number of problems during each of the three 15-day intervals. This indicates that the students did not become desensitized to the presence of the VMD’s over the five-month experiment. At the conclusion of the study, drivers in the treatment group rated the behavior of their students more highly than the rating of students by drivers in the control group. A tally of the number of discipline referrals issued by the drivers revealed that the members of the treatment group experienced fewer severe disciplinary problems. Finally, multiple regression indicated that of all independent variables, group membership is the best predictor of a number of behavioral problems, discipline referrals issued, and driver perception of student behavior. / Ed. D.

With the national attention in the 1990’s on quality education and renewed interest in the transfer function of community colleges, the community college faces increased demands from the legislators for educational accountability and the critics who question the two-year college’s ability to maintain the quality of its transfer function at the same time that it provides vocational, community, and developmental education. Among the issues in the growing concern for transfer education, and most significant to the future of the community college, is the inference that the original transfer function has reemerged as a primary determinant of community college quality. Thus, the community college must respond to the critics and demonstrate the efficacy of its transfer function. To examine the influences that contribute to the high academic achievement (GPA 3.0 or greater) of a transfer student from a Virginia community college to Virginia Tech and determine why the high-achieving student succeeds, the researcher utilized the qualitative research method of naturalistic inquiry with interviews and a quantitative research method with a questionnaire, a methodological triangulation for reliability and validity in qualitative research. In this research study of the two-year commuter institution, integration into the academic system appears more important to high-achievement than integration into the social system; moreover, the faculty-student interaction and collegiate impact seem significantly related to student characteristics, both findings of which are supported in the literature. With the originally eligible and originally ineligible more alike than different in entry characteristics, it seems probable that the community college experience is influential for students with the particular characteristics of those in this study. Based on the findings in this study that the community college experience appears to have positive influence on educational aspiration and that the influence varies for different kinds of students, educators must consider different types of faculty~student interaction with different educational outcomes for different types of students--a topic of some significance for the diverse population of the community college. In this study of the community college with its open-door policy to expand the opportunity for the student without academic credentials, forty percent of these high-achievers were originally ineligible for admission to Virginia Tech; however, the combination of their characteristics as self-directed learners and the faculty-student interaction in the community college environment led them to success as high-achievers not only at the community college but also at Virginia Tech. / Ph. D.

A diallel study of American Corn Belt maize (Zea mays L.) was conducted at Holland, Virginia in 1981 and 1982. All possible crosses of twelve inbred parents (A619, A632, B73, H60, H93, H96, Mo17, Oh7B, Pa91, Val7, Va.79:419, Va85) were planted in three replications with population density treatments of 39,536, 49,420, 59,304, and 69,188 pl/ha in strips across hybrid treatments. Analyses of variance and combining ability analyses were performed on traits measuring the timing of anthesis (pollen shed) and silk emergence, on ear components of yield, and on components of kernel size. Density effects were highly significant for all traits, except for that of pollen shed duration, in the analyses combined over years. Hybrid-by-year interactions were highly significant for all traits. Correlations between GCA effects of grain yield and GCA effects of silking delay (anthesis-to-silking interval), kernels per row on the ear, ear kernel number, and kernel depth[(ear diameter - cob diameter)/2] were -0.79, 0.64, 0.66, and 0.80 in 1981, and 0.24, 0.81, 0.71, and 0.26 in 1982, respectively. Moisture stress sufficient to cause wilting occurred before and during silking in 1981. Apparently, short silking delay was associated with high moisture stress tolerance for grain yield in 1981 and was associated with long ear shoot length in 1982. Deep kernel depth apparently was associated with drought stress tolerance for yield as well. The heritabilities of ear traits were higher the earlier they became established in the sequence of development. Heritabilities of silking delay and most ear components of yield were increased by increasing planting density. However, the correlations among flowering and ear traits largely were unaffected by density, perhaps because densities were not high enough to make barrenness a substantial factor in grain yield. The most important traits related to yield were silking delay, kernels per row, kernel depth, and kernel row number. GCA to SCA variance component ratios were increased by combining data over years and by the more optimum season for yield. / Ph. D.

This study examined the relationship between the condition of school facilities and student achievement and student behavior. The entire population of small, rural high schools in Virginia was used in this study. Building condition was determined by the Commonwealth Assessment of Physical Environment which was completed by personnel in the divisions of the forty-seven schools in the population. Student achievement was determined by the scale scores of the Test of Academic Proficiency for grade eleven during the 1991-1992 school year. Student behavior was determined by the ratio of the number of expulsions, suspensions, and violence/substance abuse incidents to the number of students in each school. All achievement scores were adjusted for socioeconomic status by using the free and reduced lunch numbers for each school. These variables were investigated using analysis of covariance, correlations, and regression analysis. This study found the student achievement scores were higher in schools with better building conditions. Student discipline incidents were also higher in schools with better building condition. Science achievement scores were better in buildings with better science laboratory conditions. Cosmetic building condition appeared to impact student achievement and student behavior more than structural building condition. Finally, varying climate control, locker, and graffiti conditions were factors which were positively related to student achievement scale scores. / Ed. D.

Virginia, like many states and school districts has enacted beginning teacher induction programs which include the assignment of an experienced teacher or mentor to assist each beginning teacher. Unique to Virginia programs is that while support for program development has been provided by the Virginia Department of Education, specific guidelines on mentoring activities have not been mandated. Instead, local school districts have had the autonomy to make their own decisions regarding the exact structure of the program. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mentoring activities and perceived benefits and concerns related to mentoring as reported by mentees and mentors in ten Virginia mentoring programs. Three hundred sixty-six mentor/mentee dyads representing K-12 general and special education teachers in ten school divisions throughout Virginia were contacted. Of them, 157 mentees and 198 mentors participated in the study. using survey research methods participants were asked on a 23-item questionnaire to describe activities, benefits and concerns related to mentoring and their mentor programs. Data collected through the written survey questions were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The results indicated that most mentees and mentors thought the mentoring program was beneficial. Many activities came about as a result of the mentoring relationship. These include collaborating and conferring about lesson plans, materials, classroom management, instructional techniques, and discussion of curriculum. The program provided a collegial relationship giving mentees emotional support and encouragement. In addition, mentees felt they learned new teaching techniques and strategies, better Classroom management, and how to pace instruction more effectively. Mentors liked the recognition they received from being selected as a mentor and enjoyed the sharing of professional information with mentees. The major concerns expressed by both mentees and mentors were a lack of release time to observe, have conferences or collaborate and the lack of specific role definitions for the job as mentor. Given these concerns, it makes sense that school divisions ought to give more direction to defining the role of a mentor and insure release time to give them more opportunities for professional development. / Ed. D.

This dissertation surveyed Section 8 participants to collect the information necessary to update utility allowances to reflect fy 1983 utility costs. Data was collected regarding the thermal efficiency of units currently under lease and the lifestyles of participants. HUD specified that allowances were to be updated by collecting and analyzing actual energy use data (from previous utility bills if possible). However, VHDA chose to contract with this author to develop a model which could estimate actual energy use from the survey data. Such a model was developed and validated using case studies of Section 8 units that were able to return accurate actual use data; as part of the information requested in the survey. Following model validation, the model was used to update utility allowances and generate a set of allowance worksheets VHDA field agents use when determining levels of assistance under the Section 8 program. A total VHDA utility budget was then estimated by aggregating the individual utility allowances based on the updated worksheets. The new total utility budget was estimated to be $6.2 million while the previous budget was about $3.8 million. This was clearly higher than VHDA had the funds to cover. Therefore solutions were explored to reduce these budget costs and still provide 100% of the cost of utilities. / Ph. D.

Ed. D.

Ground-water geology along the northwest foot of the Blue Ridge between Arnold Valley and Elkton, Virginia The area discussed in this report lies along the northwest flank of the Blue Ridge in Rockbridge, Augusta, and Rockingham counties, Virginia. It spans the boundary between the Blue Ridge and the Great Valley physiographic provinces. The southeastern (Blue Ridge) portion of the area is mountainous and underlain by Precambrian crystalline and lower Cambrian elastic rocks. It is a major water catchment area for the eastern edge of the Shenandoah Valley and is chiefly a National Forest preserve. Cambriancarbonate rocks and fine-grained elastics underlie the relatively level areas between the mountains and the major subsequent streams near their base. A thick unconsolidated mantle which slopes gently away from the mountains conceals bedrock over much of the area. Major well fields have been developed on level alluvial floodplains and terraces adjacent to the rivers. Some produce several million gallons of water each day from bedrock aquifers at depth of from 50 to over 700 feet. The average temperature within the area is about 55°F. Average annual precipitation is approximately 41 inches and is greatest in the mountains. About six inches becomes ground-water recharge. Artificial withdrawal by wells would increase the rate of recharge. Evapotranspiration frequently exceeds total precipitation during the summer and early autumn. Most streams which drain the Blue Ridge are perennial near the headwaters and intermittent northwest of the mountains. They may be influent to bedrock aquifers within or near the base of the mountains and near the confluence with subsequent streams where the clay mantle is deeply eroded, but are effluent in the intervening reaches. The perennial streams are dominantly effluent. The major rivers are sub•sequent and effluent. They receive surface drainage and overflow of ground-water reservoirs from the Blue Ridge and from dominantly carbonate terranes to the west and northwest. Streamflow of the major streams represents approximately one third of the average annual areal precipitation. The stratigraphic sequence within the area from older to younger is designated as fellows: Precambrian crystalline rocks; Precambrian-Lower Cambrian Catoctin Greenstone and Swift Run Formations; LowerCambrian elastics; Lower Cambrian Tomstown (Shady) Delomite; Lower Cambrian Waynesboro (Rome) Formation; Middle Cambrian Elbrook Formation; and the Upper Cambrian Conococheague Limestone. The Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks, and the lower portion of the Lower Cambrian elastics are normally relatively poor aquifers. Minor production is obtained from fractured zones at locations within the mountains. The Antietam formation, the upper portion of the Lower Cambrianelastics, is a major potential aquifer. One well in Buena Vista produces over 600 gpm of water of low mineralization. Similar sites abound along the base of the Blue Ridge. The Tomstown Dolomite is a major aquifer at Waynesboro where the DuPont well field produces over 11,000,000 gpd. The producing characteristics of the Tomstown formation near the mountains at locations remote from the major rivers, where it is commonly concealed by a thick impermeable mantle of clay, are virtually unknown. Thick beds of limestone and dolomite in the Waynesboro Formationare prolific aquifers at Glasgow and near Elkton. Argillaceous portions of the formation are commonly aquicludes although secondary permeability may be developed by fracturing. Several wells produce over 1000 gpm from aquifers in the Elbrookand Conococheague formations near Grottoes and south of Elkton. With some exceptions, the water produced from these formations is harder than that produced from older formations to the east. A mantle of Cenozoic gravel and clay up to 400 feet thick overlies the bedrock over wide areas. The lower portion consists primarily of silty clay which is largely residual. Near the base of the mountains where it is thickest. it consists largely of leached colluvial material derived from the adjacent formations. It is characteristically an aquiclude which inhibits direct downward percolation of water to the underlying bedrock. Water encountered in the bedrock below it is commonly under mild artesian head. The upper portion of the mantle consists dominantly of alluvial and colluvial gravel with a sandy clay matrix and discontinuous beds of sand or of sandy or silty clay. It lies unconformably over residual clay and bedrock and is probably of Pleistocene age. It grades into talus near the foot of the mountains. The Cenozoic mantle yields only small amounts of water of variable quality to domestic wells although several large springs issue from it. The structural geology of the area is complex. Interpretation is complicated by facies changes and poor exposure. Fractures produced by deformation of the brittle rocks provide permeability. The main effect of the structure is its effect on the distribution of potential aquifers. The occurrence of ground water within the area is probably influenced more by topography, distribution of the unconsolidated mantle, and lithologic characteristics of the bedrock than by structure. Calcium and magnesium bicarbonate is the principal chemical constituents of ground water produced from major wells and springs within the area. Water from the carbonate aquifers is commonly moderately hard (61-120 ppm as CaC03). Nearly all of the hardness is temporary(carbonate) and is approximately equivalent to the alkalinity. Concentrations of deleterious substances are low. Water from the elastic rocks is characterized of low mineralization and pH. It is corrosive to ferrous metals. The temperature of well waters varies from 12° to 15°c. (54° - 59°F.)with few exceptions. Quality of ground water can commonly be correlated with the geologic formation from which it is produced. The concentration of total dissolved solids in waters from the bedrock aquifers tends to increase with decreasing age of the aquifer and with distance from the mountains. Water from limestone is commonly more highly mineralized than that from dolomite. Waters from. the same formation tends to be more highly mineralized west of the major rivers than they are to the east. Mineralization of most of the waters studied is derived from the dissolution of the carbonate aquifers and is controlled by equilibrium relations between dolomite, calcite, and dissolved carbon dioxide. The degree of saturation of waters with respect to solid calcite and dolomite can be determined semiquantitatively by comparison of the equilibrium pH computed from water analyses with the measured pH. Waters from typical dolomite reservoirs are supersaturated with respect to dolomite. The ratio of the concentration of calcium to the concentration of magnesium of most samples reflects the composition of the reservoir rock. Most samples contain more calcium than magnesium. Relationships between the calcium-magnesium ratio, the total mineralization, and the degree of saturation of water samples with respect to the solid carbonates are useful to relate the geology of the area to its hydrology. The quality of river water fluctuates widely with meteorologic variations, but that of ground-water produced from bedrock in adjacent wells east of the river remains relatively constant. Recharge to the wells at depth is evidently sufficient to prevent downward percolation of appreciable quantities of surface flow into the good bores although pumping levels are commonly below river level. The quality of the water suggests that recharge is dominantly from the east. Dolomite aquifers underlying floodplain and terrace deposits east of the major rivers are most favorable for the industrial development of ground-water resources. Prospective areas are outlined. Wells located in minor stream valleys near the boundary between the Blue Ridge and the Valley also offers prospects of production from Antietam or Tomstownaquifers. Test-drilling is warranted. Drilling of test wells should be the first step of industrial site investigation. The location of wells should be based upon a detailed local surface geological investigation. / Doctor of Philosophy

An investigation was made of the flash flood of July 9, 1943, on the Blacksburg watershed with a view toward an approximation of the actual amount of water passing as run-off during the storm, as well as the peak rate of flow. All the available data have been reviewed with the above purpose in mind. The unit graph method has been applied to this investigation as the most logical method of solution. With the data already available plus that gathered by the writer, the unit graph method was readily applied. In this connection, the writer has kept continuous rainfall records at the Mineral Industries Building and continuous water level records at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute dam. After arriving at a solution as to the actual run-off conditions at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute dam following the above storm, further investigation was made of that point of the drainage area above the Blacksburg depot of the Norfolk and Western Railroad. The capacities of both the culvert on Eakia Street and the channel above Eakia Street were determined by calculations, and an opinion based on the review of observed data was offered as to why the culvert did not properly take care of the run-off from the drainage area above it. Using the calculated maximum rate of run-off, a cross section of Strouble’s Creek at the site of the proposed Virginia Polytechnic Institute sewage disposal plant has been analyzed. A solution has been offered as to low high the maximum flood crest of Strouble’s Creek at that point will reach. This information is necessary because the sewage plant must be build above the flood waters. / M.S.

The thrust for institutional reform and desire for accountability has caused important changes in school districts across the nation. In many schools, authority is shifting from the central office to the school, and both parents and teachers are assuming more responsibility for making decisions about school matters that are important to them. This process, often called school-based management, has potential for creating an environment that will allow reform and accountability to occur in districts seeking options to top down management. The purpose of this study was to acquire information about professional responsibility and involvement of building-level educators, parents, and community leaders in this reform movement and to provide a picture of school-based management in the public elementary schools of Virginia. The research describes a range of decision making that exists at different administrative levels in Virginia's schools systems and the parameters established for site-based decision making in Virginia's elementary schools. / Ed. D.