Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 10, 1995 TAG: 9510100063
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
If that's true, then this city's cup runneth over.
The present year's enrollment in grades K-5 is up as much as 55 percent over the 1995 graduating class at Radford High School.
As a result, classrooms are brimming at McHarg and Belle Heth elementary schools. "We're using every bit of available space every minute of the day," said Michael Wright, city school superintendent. "We're simply going to have to have additional space."
School Board members plan to visit City Council later this month with a "wish list" of expansion and improvements that will affect all of Radford's four schools: McHarg, Belle Heth, Dalton Intermediate and Radford High School.
Last week, the School Board came up with a tentative list of priorities, which includes new classrooms at McHarg, Belle Heth and Dalton, and new computer labs at all four schools.
Council has already agreed in principle to underwrite $1.5 million worth of capital improvements, an amount the school system plans to pursue by a low-interest loan from the state's Literary Fund.
City Manager Robert Asbury said council's endorsement carries an assurance that the city will cover interim financing for the building projects while the loan application is pending.
Chances are "excellent" that the loan will be approved, Asbury said. But the process takes from a year to 18 months, so the city has agreed to cover costs in the meanwhile and accept reimbursement when the loan comes through.
With council's cooperation, the projects can move ahead rapidly, and probably be ready by the beginning of the 1996 school year, Wright said.
Literary loans can be repaid at a 3 percent annual rate over as much as a 20-year period, Wright said. "It's the best pricing arrangement that one could obtain."
Wright stressed that the wish list School Board members will bring to council's Oct. 23 meeting is tentative, with priorities and costs still under discussion.
Radford's school enrollment increases reflect a national demographic trend, Wright said, which he described as "baby boom three." About a decade ago, city schools had relatively low enrollments and a surplus of space in its schools, he recalled.
But that's changed. And higher enrollments in all kindergarten and elementary level classes indicate more space will be needed as the pupils progress through the school system, Wright said. Overall, city schools' enrollment stands at 1,512, which is 37 pupils more than last year.
Teachers are getting by with "creative" use of instructional space, he said, adding: "We're very excited about the prospect" of expansion.
School Board members also believe new computer labs belong on the capital improvements list to keep pace with the demands students will face for computer literacy, Wright said.
by CNB