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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 25, 1994                   TAG: 9405250145
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

BOARD ELECTION SIGNATURES TO BE SUBMITTED THIS WEEK

Kelly Morris, who has been spearheading a petition drive in favo of an elected School Board, this week expects to submit the signatures of more than 750 voters who want the issue on the ballot Nov. 8.

"It was really smooth," Morris said of the drive she began about five months ago. "I thought it would be a little more controversial."

She and her friend, Joann Forrest, collected the lion's share of the names, which Morris will submit to the clerk of the Circuit Court. But, before she does, she wants to try to collect just a few more names. "I didn't go door-to-door, but I still may do that," she said. "I just kept [the petition] with me."

"I'd say, out of 10 people, eight would sign that I spoke to," she said.

According to law, Morris must turn in valid signatures representing 10 percent of the number of Radford's registered voters for the drive to succeed in putting the question to voters this fall. That's about 560 names. The Registrar of Voters must validate each name, and Morris wants a few extras just in case some of them turn out to be invalid.

City Council now appoints School Board members. Both Pulaski and Montgomery counties already have opted to switch from appointed to elected boards.

"I think everyone should have the privilege of voting for them," Morris has said.

School Board Chairman Guy Gentry has suggested elected school boards could discourage good candidates who might be put off by having to campaign. He also has cited the potential for special- or single-interest candidates.

School Board Vice Chairman Chip Craig has publicly expressed his opposition to elected boards.

Chris Strange, who was appointed by City Council on Monday to a three-year term on the board, said during his council interview that he supports elected school boards.

"The citizens have proved through electing City Council that they can make intelligent, informed decisions," he said. Strange said he thinks council and an elected School Board should be able to work together without problems.

A mother of two preschool youngsters, Morris said she has no particular ax to grind with the present board. She also has insisted there's no connection between her desire for an elected School Board and her husband's part-time coaching job in the Radford City Schools.

David "Dink" Morris coaches football and baseball. Kelly Morris said she and her husband supported the board's decision to drop Radford High School's athletic classification from AA to A.

"That was one positive thing they did," she said.

by CNB