Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990                   TAG: 9006060351
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PEARISBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

BOARD MEMBER REJECTED

Gillispie, who has served since 1982, is the third incumbent school board members in as many years not to be reappointed. His term ends June 30.

Although consolidation of Giles and Narrows high schools has been an issue considered central to the choice for School Board, neither Gillispie nor Hedrick had indicated they had made a decision on the matter.

Hedrick said general talk about his stand was the result of a letter his daughter and others wrote to a local weekly paper saying consolidation would provide better education opportunities for those who decide to pursue a college degree.

Hedrick said he needs lots of data before he makes a decision and the same would hold true for consolidation.

Gillispie said the bottom line in creating the best educational opportunities doesn't lie in consolidation but in attitudes and the quality of teachers.

After opposition from parents and students, the School Board voted last year to delay a decision on consolidating the schools until after a 1991-92 state school census and an administrative review.

District Supervisor Samuel G. Timberlake placed Hedrick's name in nomination, but not before criticizing the appointment procedure.

Timberlake said the appointment process had become too political and that school boards should be elected instead of appointed. Barring that, Timberlake said, the supervisors should return to using a school-board selection committee to decide the appointments. Virginia is the only state that does not have the option of elected school boards.

He said he had received calls from the Narrows area criticizing an advertisement he ran in the local paper asking for input on his vote. In nominating Hedrick, Timberlake said he was honoring his word to abide by the people's choice.

Timberlake said the response from the ad was "overwhelmingly in favor" of Hedrick. "I've lost a friend and it's unfair," he said of not nominating Gillispie.

After the meeting, Gillispie said he was convinced he did have the majority of the county's support. "If it had been an election, I'm confident it would have been different results than today."

Gillispie said he had visited Timberlake's house and seen many of the letters he had received regarding the appointment. Gillispie said the majority supported his reappointment.