BOARD SPLIT ON WHAT TO DO WITH BUILDINGS IN FUTURE

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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 13, 1993                   TAG: 9301130100
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD                                LENGTH: Medium
BOARD SPLIT ON WHAT TO DO WITH BUILDINGS IN FUTURE
Members of the Floyd County School Board remain split on whether to build two new elementary schools or renovate the four existing schools to bring the school system into the 21st century.
At its meeting Monday, board members said if no unanimous decision can be made, the next best alternative is to present two scenarios to the Board of Supervisors at a joint meeting later in the month.
Currently, board members agree a middle school needs to be built and the high school needs renovations.
The issue with the elementary school is the problem.
"I still keep thinking about [the state Department of Education facilities plan], saying it was a waste of money to renovate 50-year-old buildings that are not meeting our educational goals," board member Margaret Hubbard said.
Board member Douglas Phillips said that before the facilities plan was conducted, the School Board already had discussed renovating the elementary schools and he did not understand why the plan should be changed.
"I don't believe, if we try to build the elementary schools and the middle school, and renovate the high school, that we'll get the money," he said. "It appears to me we need to renovate the high school and elementary schools like we've discussed the past five years."
"I think renovation is postponing the inevitable," argued Chairman Bill Munzing. "I would agree [with Hubbard] that now is as good a time as any - probably better - to go ahead with plans to build the new schools."
School Superintendent Omar Ross said "regardless of what decision we make, reality is five years away."
The cost of building the two new elementary schools is estimated at close to $5 million each, one on the east side and one on the west side of the county. Estimates on the cost of renovations at the schools have not yet been determined.
"Renovating or building is the question, not how much money is being spent," said Munzing.
In other matters, the School Board heard the Floyd County Education Association's Compensation Committee salary proposal for the next school year.
Under the current salary scale, the starting salary of $19,762 for teachers ranks last among the 134 counties in the state. Teachers must then work six years before moving up a step on the scale.
The new proposal of $20,000 would bring the starting salary to 37th in the state and allow for scale increases each year. The compensation committee calls for a 4 percent increase each year.
"Other schools will eventually pass this scale, but this is a good start," Check Elementary teacher Steven Delozier said. "All the teachers we have spoken with feel this is a good transition. We feel this would be the best thing for Floyd County and this is what we're worth."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB