Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 15, 1994 TAG: 9407150088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Gallion, director of administration, will succeed Deanna Gordon, who became superintendent July 1.
Gordon announced several other changes in the school system's central office Thursday night.
Martin Robison, community relations coordinator, will become executive assistant. Ruth Wade, clerk of the School Board, has been named supervisor of classified personnel. She also will continue as clerk.
Garland Life has been named senior director for instruction. He will continue to direct and coordinate general, special and vocational education.
Jane James has been named associate director of instructional technology.
School Board member Barbara "Bootie" Chewning announced Thursday that she will not be a candidate for the Vinton District's seat on the board in the November election.
Chewning, who has been on the board 12 years, said it is time for her to step aside and let someone else represent the Vinton District.
She is the second board member who has chosen to retire without becoming a candidate this fall.
Charlsie Pafford, who represents the Windsor Hills District, said earlier that she will not be a candidate.
Roanoke County will choose three board members - from Vinton, Windsor Hills and Hollins - this fall in the first School Board election in the county's history.
Jerry Canada, who represents the Hollins District, will be a candidate in November.
There will be elections in the Catawba and Cave Spring districts in November 1995.
If Chewning had sought to keep her seat, she would have faced three challengers: Evelyn Ball, Bob Rouse and Mike Stovall.
Chewning's announcement came at Gordon's first meeting as superintendent.
Gordon gave the board an analysis of several options for a new high school in the Cave Spring area. The report listed advantages and disadvantages of building a new school instead of renovating Cave Spring Junior High and other schools.
The county Board of Supervisors has asked school administrators to look into the possibility of building a new high school in Cave Spring rather than waiting eight to 10 years as the board had planned.
Supervisor Bob Johnson has questioned the feasibility of renovating schools that might be phased out when a new high school is built. But school administrators have stressed they do not need a new high school for another decade and that existing schools would need repair before then.
Early estimates were that a new high school would cost $17 million, but Gordon said Thursday night the cost would be much higher.
Some board members think they are being pressured by the Board of Supervisors to build a new high school much earlier than they had planned.
The supervisors provide the funds for school programs, but the School Board has the final decision on the construction, renovation and closing of schools.
by CNB