Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410220068
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's what most of the candidates for the Roanoke County School Board predicted Thursday night as they promised to lobby the Board of Supervisors for more school money in the meantime.
In most states, school boards have the power to levy taxes and generate the funds they need to run the schools. Not so in Virginia, where boards have to rely on the local governing body for money for schools.
"It is going to come. How long it will be, I don't know," said Lisa Merrill, a candidate in the Windsor Hills District.
Merrill said that electing school boards without the power to tax is like hiring a chief executive officer of a company and telling him he can't make financial decisions.
"It would help if we had taxing power. I was surprised when the [General Assembly] didn't provide the right to tax," said Evelyn Ball, a candidate in the Vinton District.
Before moving to Virginia, Ball lived in several other states whose school boards have the power of taxation.
If the School Board could levy taxes, it would be a big advantage in funding the school budget, said Thomas Leggette, who also is running for the Windsor Hills seat.
"But I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon," he said.
Leggette said he is more optimistic that the General Assembly might give schools part of the state lottery proceeds.
County schools have been shortchanged in recent years because they have received less than half of the county's tax revenues, said Michael Stovall, a candidate in the Vinton District.
"I hope we can get it back on a 50-50 percent basis with the supervisors so some of the school needs can be met," he said.
If the county can afford an expensive office building on Virginia 419 for its administrative offices, it should be able to provide more money for schools, Stovall said.
"Some school buildings in the county are far worse off than the county's nice office building," he said.
Richard Cullinan, a candidate in the Windsor Hills District, said he's not sure whether schools will be given taxing authority. If they do, he said, they must be careful not to overtax.
If both the School Board and supervisors could tax, he said, they might hurt the financial health of the county and schools if they are not cautious.
Speaking at a meeting of the county's Special Education Advisory Committee, all candidates said they are sensitive to the special needs of children with mental and physical disabilities.
The candidates said that special-needs children should have a full range of educational opportunities - from mainstreaming and inclusion to private care centers.
Cullinan said the educational programs for children with special needs should be decided on an individual basis. What works in one case may not work in another, he said.
If elected, Stovall said he would work with school administrators and parents to address the needs of each child.
Merrill said she favors choices for children with disabilities. But she said the inclusion of the children in regular classes will work only if there is proper planning.
Leggette said he is an advocate of inclusion because he has seen what a difference it can make. Ball said she's not sure that inclusion will work in all cases, but she is open to all options.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***