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

DATE: SATURDAY, November 6, 1993                   TAG: 9311080137
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau|
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                 LENGTH: Short

CANNERY-INTO-CLASSROOMS DECISION WON'T COME FROM SUPERVISORS

The Montgomery County school superintendent and two School Board members came to the Board of Supervisors looking for input Thursday on the proposed closing of the public cannery at Blacksburg Middle School.

Instead, they got lectured.

The county School Board delayed voting on the closure Tuesday to seek input from the supervisors, who control the schools' purse strings.

School officials want to close the Blacksburg cannery and expand the hours at the one at Auburn High School in Riner. The Blacksburg space would be used for two new classrooms. Cannery users say the Riner facility is too small for that load and have criticized the School Board's proposal.

Board of Supervisors members Nick Rush of Christiansburg and Joe Stewart of Elliston said flat out they don't favor closing the cannery.

``Ya'll make the decision, don't try to pass the buck,'' Rush said.

Supervisor Larry Linkous had several questions about the proposal; board member Joe Gorman said the decision should be made before people plant their gardens; and newly re-elected Supervisor Jim Moore said it was a school matter and he wouldn't comment.

Board Chairman Ira Long and member Henry Jablonski reminded the school officials that the board puts money in the budget specifically for the cannery operations, and that closing the cannery would not necessarily give the School Board more money to spend on other projects.

The School Board postponed its cannery decision until Nov. 16.

by CNB