Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, November 14, 1995                   TAG: 9511140068
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL SYSTEMS START LOOKING AT NEW BUDGETS

Yes, it's school budget negotiation time again.

Two area school systems will hold public hearings this week.

The Radford School Board already has kicked into high gear, hearing budget requests at its meeting last week.

Radford parents and volunteers asked for four full-time special education aides at last week's hearing. Bob Hiltonsmith, chair of the Special Education Advisory Council, said supplying one rotating aide per school could help teachers juggle the demands of special needs students.

The Radford Education Association also requested a 5 percent overall pay increase for employees and a raise in health insurance benefits.

Superintendent Michael Wright said the budget must be submitted to the city by the early part of January. Although Radford only has one hearing for public comment, in past years citizens have submitted additional budget requests during board meetings, Wright said.

Giles County will hold its public budget hearing Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the library of Giles High School.

Within the next three weeks, Montgomery County will hold four public hearings - one for each school strand:

Tonight at Blacksburg High School

Thursday at Auburn High and Middle School

Nov. 21 at Christiansburg High School

Nov. 28 at Shawsville High and Middle School

Each hearing will begin at 7:30 p.m.

By mid-January, the School Board will have a working budget to present at another public hearing on Jan. 23. The final proposal must be sent to the county administrator by early February. The proposal then goes to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.