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

DATE: FRIDAY, July 2, 1993                   TAG: 9307020226
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION PETITIONS SUBMITTED

Supporters of a change to an elected School Board in Montgomery County delivered petitions calling for a referendum on the issue to the county registrar Thursday morning.

Lynn Linkous of Christiansburg, one of the organizers of the petition drive, said she turned in petitions carrying 3,007 names and has some still out.

Registrar Sandra Chapin must certify that the petition signers are registered voters in Montgomery County.

Organizers must collect the signatures of 10 percent of the registered voters in the county as of Jan. 1 to get a referendum on the ballot in November.

The names of 2,928 voters are needed.

If enough of the signers are voters, the petitions will be turned over to the Circuit Court.

The court must receive the petitions by Aug. 4.

Linkous said Thursday that she wanted to thank everyone who had circulated and signed petitions.

The petition drive is an outgrowth of the public debate over whether the county school system should return to traditional Christian names for school holidays that fall on Christmas and Easter.

Those holidays are now called winter and spring break on the school calendar.

Linkous and her husband, Danny, and five other couples who support a return to the Christian names started the petition drive because they believe they have no voice in the school system, she said.

Currently, members of the School Board are appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

by CNB