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Now that Roanoke school officials have put controversial decisions on layoffs, school closings and redrawn attendance lines behind them, they are about to take up another major decision, one that has generated less publicity but is no less weighty.

The school board is in the process of writing an "equity policy," to make sure that all schools have the same resources. Board members approved a resolution on April 7 asking that a policy be drafted for the board's consideration. The policy comes out of the new attendance areas, board members say.

Here's the reasoning: If the school system is going to tell parents that their children have to attend another school, those parents have to be assured that the new school is going to get the same resources as the old one. But isn't it intuitive that school resources should be split across all schools in the district in an equitable manner?

"It is, but I think in most urban school systems what has happened over time is you have had an inequity that's developed for many different reasons," board member Suzanne Moore said.

For instance, schools that receive extra federal money because they serve a low-income population may see less local money as a result, she said. More affluent schools may also have seen less funding because parents were willing and able to contribute through the PTA.

The board's move will enshrine basic principles of fairness and equality in the school system's policy manual.

The next question is: How do you define equity? Some schools are bigger than others, and some serve more needy students, after all.

"We recognize that equity does not mean equal, rather it is the conformity to the high standards that the board expects for every RCPS student and school based on the needs of the individual students and/or school," reads the resolution approved by the school board.

Moore said board members will look at "everything from your physical buildings to your instructional materials to the experience of your staff."

The policy will call on the district to produce an annual report with school-by-school information, including:

• The number of teachers at each school who meet the federal government's definition of highly qualified teachers.

• The experience of teachers at each school.

• The amount of teacher turnover at each school.

• The annual funding allocated to each school, not including federal money for anti-poverty programs.

• The amount of federal money for anti-poverty programs allocated to each school.

• The policy will also create a committee to make recommendations. The committee is expected to consist of the school superintendent, a school administrator, a member of the central council of PTAs, a member of the Roanoke Education Association and two citizen members.