November 24, 1996

The superintendents who oversee New York City's elementary and middle schools have long complained that the city's sprawling high schools soaked up a disproportionate share of precious education dollars. So it was a surprise when Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew, in the system's most exhaustive accounting, concluded that the high schools actually get much less -- an average of about $398 less per student than the elementary schools and $760 less than the junior high schools.

Parlor game of foreign policy establishment--predicting who will replace Warren Christopher as Secretary of State--is being played with feverish intensity in Washington, DC; White House spokesman Michael D McCurry says Pres Clinton has not made up his mind; White House officials say leading candidates are former Sens George J Mitchell and Sam Nunn, former Asst Sec of State Richard C Holbrooke and United Nations chief delegate Madeleine K Albright; photos (M)

Most US states rely on road salt during icy and snowy weather despite concerns of environmentalists, who contend that runoff into rivers and streams kills fish and aquatic plants (M)

Robert Lipsyte column on the inquiries he made about cremation when the task of arranging one recently fell to him; he ultimately opted for a $995 cremation over alternatives costing as much as $3,000 or as little as $410; drawing (M)

Profile of major league baseball umpire John Hirschbeck, who was spat upon by Baltimore Orioles player Roberto Alomar on Sept 27 during game against Toronto Blue Jays; focuses on Hirschbeck's coping with rare brain disorder--adrenoleukodystr ophy--that killed his son, John, at age 8 and also affects younger son, Michael, 10; photo (L)