Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 21, 1994 TAG: 9407210091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
If the county can afford to pay for the new school without a tax increase, it might be built in the next three or four years.
If not, the school probably won't be built for another eight to 10 years.
The recent debate over the new school has been about how much more bonded debt the county can assume - and the priority of school building projects.
If the county can afford to meet all of its school building needs in the Cave Spring area in the next three or four years - and still take on more debt for a new school - a referendum on school bonds might be held in November.
But the county School Board and Board of Supervisors could be headed for a clash over the timetable for a new Cave Spring High and other school building needs.
Under state law, the supervisors provide the funds for school buildings and programs, but the School Board determines how the money is spent.
The supervisors have asked the School Board to determine the financial impact of a school bond referendum this fall. The School Board will submit its report next week.
Some supervisors doubt that voters are in the mood to approve another bond issue. But Supervisor Bob Johnson believes that voters should be given the opportunity to decide whether they are willing to pay for a new school.
The School Board had not planned to build a new Cave Spring High for eight to 10 years. In the meantime, the board had planned to spend $5 million for renovations to the existing Cave Spring Junior High and Cave Spring High schools.
The School Board also has a list of $15 million in needed improvements at several county schools.
Some board members believe these projects are needed more urgently than a new Cave Spring High.
Johnson contends it would be a waste of money to spend $5 million on the existing buildings when a new high school will be needed in eight years. Johnson said he's not telling the School Board what to do, but he believes voters should be allowed to decide the issue.
Supervisor Ed Kohinke said he, too, favors an early start on the new high school, but he's not trying to tell the School Board how to run the schools.
"I enthusiastically support the idea of moving ahead with the project sooner rather than later, but I don't want that support to be construed as pressure," Kohinke said.
"I think it is much more important at this stage of the game to look at the whole package of long-range needs for the school system, and how the new high school might fit into it, rather than focusing on the new school as the goal," he said.
"I will gladly put my support for the high school on hold if that support is creating any undue confusion or concern," Kohinke said.
As part of a bond issue for the Cave Spring project, some county officials have suggested that funds for a new gymnasium at Northside High School should be included. This would help generate support for the bonds on both sides of the county.
Maurice "Buck" Mitchell, School Board vice chairman, said the supervisors should not try to manage the schools.
"I do not expect the supervisors to make the decisions that the School Board should make," Mitchell said. "We are the ones to make the decisions."
School officials have prepared several alternatives, ranging from a new high school to improvements at the existing schools.
"We've been working on this plan for five years, and now we are being asked to come up with something different quickly," Mitchell said.
School Superintendent Deanna Gordon said the supervisors' request for more information provides an opportunity for school officials to lay out their building needs.
"They want to see the big picture, and this will be a window of opportunity to provide them with information," Gordon said.
Supervisor Harry Nickens said he doubts the county can afford to finance all of the school projects immediately. He said the projected cost of new high school has risen from $17 million to $20 million and may go higher.
by CNB