Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 5, 1994 TAG: 9412010028
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Short
Vickers, who represents the town of Blacksburg, sat stone-faced as a PTA spokeswoman addressed the school board.
"Over the last year, there have been deep concerns regarding the way in which the interests of citizens in the Blacksburg area have been represented by Mr. Roy Vickers," said Beth Brown, Blacksburg Middle School PTA president.
Among those concerns are Vickers' lack of communication with the PTAs and his failure to act on a morale survey released in May.
The survey indicated widespread dissatisfaction with Superintendent Herman Bartlett and the school board.
"Every attempt has been made to convey concerns to Mr. Vickers through phone calls, letters, e-mail and personal contact," Brown said.
The PTAs met with Vickers in June to discuss their concerns. They asked for Vickers' support on two issues - not to give Bartlett a raise, and not to extend his contract this year.
Vickers voted in favor of Bartlett's raise. Despite the pleas of nearly 300 Montgomery County petitioners, he was the deciding vote in extending the superintendent's contract last month.
"It was a difficult position for the PTAs, but they felt they had no other recourse," said Regina Smith, president of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs.
"I'm hearing the same thing from other parts of the county, too."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***