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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 5, 1994                   TAG: 9410050116
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL MERGER BUCKED

A proposal to realign the grades at the two schools encountered strong opposition Tuesday night from a crowd of about 150 emotional and skeptical parents.

Some said they favor the change, but a majority said they are not convinced it will benefit their children.

The plan calls for the sixth- and seventh-graders to be at one school, probably Hidden Valley, and the eighth- and ninth-graders to be at the other school.

James Gallion, assistant school superintendent, identified them only as School One and School Two in the proposal. But most parents expect Cave Spring Junior would have grades eight and nine. Both schools now have grades six through nine.

The objections to the proposal included:

Some children from Bent Mountain, Back Creek and Clearbrook would have long bus rides, in some cases more than an hour.

Sports and extracurricular opportunities for students would be reduced because there would be only one team for the schools. Seventh-grade students playing with eighth-graders on athletic teams would have to be transported.

The costs for the proposal have not been calculated. Gallion said there would be no significant increase, but the parents said they wanted to know the figures.

The parents are not convinced that the realignment significantly will reduce overcrowding at Cave Spring Junior High.

Gallion acknowledged that there are disadvantages to the realignment, but cited several benefits:

The realignment would help implement a middle-school concept in Southwest County that has been implemented in the rest of the county.

Educational research shows that the middle-school concept, which has been adopted nationally, helps improve academic performances and social development.

Middle schools include grades six through eight. Roanoke County can't fully implement the middle-school concept in the Cave Spring area, however, until a new high school is built.

The overcrowding at Cave Spring Junior High could be reduced. The realignment would equalize enrollment in the schools.

The realignment would provide a better transition for students between the ninth grade and senior high. With a single junior high (grades eight and nine), the course offerings to all students would be the same and communication between guidance departments would be improved.

"We are committed to the middle-school concept," he said. "We believe it would be in the best interests of the students."

Roanoke County already switched to the middle-school plan in the William Byrd area. Northside Middle School opened this fall, and Glenvar Middle School will open in 1997.

Gallion said the proposed realignment will have no impact on the plan for a new Cave Spring High School.

``We are committed to a new high school, and this won't cause any delay or affect the new school,'' he said.

The School Board has voted to sell bonds that will provide $1.5 million in architectural and engineering fees for the new high school.

The School Board will make the decision on the realignment plan for Cave Spring and Hidden Valley. The board is expected to hold a public hearing on the proposal before it votes.