Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 27, 1995 TAG: 9510270040
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Consultants also have recommended $15.7 million in elementary and middle school improvements in Southwest County. This includes a new 500-pupil elementary school to replace Clearbrook Elementary and relieve overcrowding at other schools.
Not all the projects are likely to be funded immediately, but the Board of Supervisors soon must decide how to finance the $33.6 million high school.
Some supervisors have raised the possibility that a bond referendum for a new high school could include school projects from all parts of the county to broaden voter support.
If that happens, the county easily could be facing a school bond issue in the range of $50 million, even if the Southwest County elementary and middle school improvements are delayed, School Board member Maurice "Buck" Mitchell said.
"If you begin including projects from other areas, I could see you could add $15 million to $20 million to the $33 million for a new high school," said Mitchell, the Cave Spring board member.
Several School Board members said they would be willing to consider such an approach but that it would be up to the supervisors to decide what projects to include and the amount of the bond issue.
If the supervisors want a bond package, "we are ready to respond and make suggestions for projects," said Chairman Jerry Canada. "There are several areas where we can make major improvements if that is their desire."
The county's school needs in other areas include a proposed elementary school in Bonsack, an addition to Burlington Elementary School and renovation of Fort Lewis Elementary.
"There are a lot of projects that could be included," Canada said.
Board member Frank Thomas said he believes the proposal for a bond package is a good idea but hopes the county can avoid a tax increase to pay for the school projects.
Board member Tom Leggette said he expects the board will give a priority ranking to the needed projects.
"We have been considering the whole county, and I would be willing to rank the projects" as Supervisor Bob Johnson suggested, Leggette said.
School administrators recently submitted a $50 million, five-year capital improvement plan that includes school building and equipment needs in all parts of the county.
Johnson told the School Board that the county should develop a comprehensive package of projects.
"We can rank them, but it's up to the supervisors to decide what to fund and how to finance them," said Leggette, the Windsor Hills member.
The supervisors could sell bonds through the Virginia Public School Authority without a referendum, but Supervisor Lee Eddy said that might anger voters.
Adding school projects from other parts of the county will require a larger bond issue and could increase the odds that it would be rejected, Mitchell said, but added that it might be the only way to get voters outside Southwest County to support it.
"Funding is going to be tough. It's going to take a commitment from all county residents," Mitchell said. "It will probably require a tax increase. It is going to be a long road."
Board member Michael Stovall said he expects the board will approve the recommendation for a new high school at its next meeting.
"Unless something drastic happens, I think that we will vote for the plan that they have laid out," said Stovall, the Vinton District member. "We need to build this school and move on with other business."
Stovall said he agrees with Supervisors' Chairman Fuzzy Minnix that the county must make a financial commitment to education.
"We are going to have to spend money if we are going to keep our quality of education," Stovall said. "Education is the drawing card in the county."
Stovall said he doesn't think all school projects, such as the proposed addition to William Byrd High School, should be included in a bond referendum with the new high school.
"I feel like I can sell the new Southwest County high school without having to include the William Byrd project," he said. "I feel people in Vinton deserve the William Byrd addition without it being tied to anything else."
Although the overcrowded conditions at Cave Spring High and Cave Spring Junior High have gotten the most attention, consultants said elementary school improvements also are needed in Southwest County.
Clearbrook Elementary is nearly 60 years old and is in poor condition, they said. Cave Spring and Penn Forest elementary schools are operating at capacity.
The consultants have developed four options for meeting the elementary school needs over the next decade, ranging from a new school to a reconfiguration of the grades in schools. The recommended option includes a new $7 million elementary school, a $2.3 million addition to Oak Grove Elementary and $3.2 million in improvements to several other schools.
by CNB