Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 16, 1995 TAG: 9510160065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
If school officials and residents choose some of the consultants' options for renovating the Roanoke County school, they might yet persuade the Board of Supervisors to provide $2.5 million to air-condition it.
But if they opt for one big new high school and a new elementary school in Southwest County, as many seem to prefer, they will weaken the case for air conditioning.
Superintendent Deanna Gordon said officials still hope the school can be air-conditioned, but she acknowledges that it might be difficult to get the funds if the building is not refurbished.
In a report on school options for Southwest County, consultants said Cave Spring Junior could be used as:
A middle school if the county establishes two high schools. Renovation would cost $7.8 million.
A "high school of choice" that would specialize in academics, performing arts, business or some other curriculum. Renovation would cost $6.5 million.
An elementary school for grades three to five to relieve overcrowding at Cave Spring Elementary and Penn Forest Elementary. Conversion to an elementary school would cost $4 million.
But none of these options received a high rating from residents at a community meeting last week. They preferred a proposal for one large school to replace Cave Spring High. Under that option, Cave Spring Junior no longer would be used as a junior high or middle school. Cave Spring High would be converted into a middle school.
Supervisor Lee Eddy said the decision on air conditioning might hinge on the construction schedule of a new high school and the length of time Cave Spring Junior would continue to be used. If a new high school could be completed in 21/2 years, he said, he probably would vote against air-conditioning the junior high. If school and county officials decide to hold off four or five years on building a new high school, Eddy said, he would be inclined to vote to air-condition Cave Spring Junior.
School officials have said Cave Spring Junior might be used for another five or six years even if a new high school is built. But they have not made a decision on the high school issue or established a schedule for school improvements in Southwest County.
The School Board is expected to take action later this month or early next month.
When the Board of Supervisors denied funding for air conditioning last month, Supervisor Bob Johnson said it didn't make good business sense to spend that much money on a school that might be closed.
"If I am going to trade in my 1968 Ford for a new Ford, the worst thing for me to do before I trade it in is to put air conditioning in it," Johnson said.
The consultants also suggested several other possible uses for Cave Spring Junior: an alternative school, adult education center, government offices or a library. They also said it could be converted to commercial use.
School officials concede that those possible uses weaken the case for air conditioning.
Eddy has developed an additional option: that Cave Spring Junior be renovated for use as a middle school. Hidden Valley Junior also would be a middle school.
Under this plan, Cave Spring High would be refurbished and a new, 750-student "high-tech high school of choice" would be built. This "school of choice" would not have athletic facilities or teams, an auditorium or gymnasium.
Eddy said his proposal would make maximum use of existing buildings and keep costs reasonable while providing a good educational program.
Cave Spring Junior was built in 1956 and had limited renovations in 1959 and 1991. In an assessment of the condition of 10 schools in Southwest County, consultants gave Cave Spring Junior the lowest rating.
by CNB