ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 5, 1996 TAG: 9603050044
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
ROANOKE COUNTY School Board members now have the right to double their salaries, but don't look for a pay increase any time soon.
The General Assembly has more than doubled the salary cap for Roanoke County School Board members - increasing it from $2,900 to $6,000 - to make it the highest in Western Virginia.
But Chairman Jerry Canada said Monday that board members have no immediate intention of raising their salaries despite the legislature's action.
"No one is thinking or talking about it now," he said. "Everybody is focusing on the school bond issue and school budget."
The board decided to ask for an increase in the salary limit after reviewing the pay for school boards in some other localities and the county board of supervisors, Canada said.
In Fairfax County and several other localities in Northern Virginia, the cap for school board members is $8,000. In Chesterfield and Henrico counties, it is $7,000.
The salary for members of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors is $10,669. The supervisors' chairman makes $12,469, and the vice chairman, $11,869. The chairman of the School Board is paid $4,000.
The increase in the salary cap for the Roanoke County School Board was included in a bill that raised the limit for Radford, Franklin County and several other localities. Both the House and Senate passed the bill, which now goes to Gov. George Allen.
Roanoke County has the largest school enrollment in Western Virginia.
In the city of Roanoke, the cap for board members is $2,400; in Salem, $1,700. In Bedford County, it is $2,400; Botetourt County, $1,800; Craig County, $2,500; Floyd County, $3,000; Giles County, $2,400; Montgomery County, $3,600; and Pulaski County, $1,800.
The bill increased the cap for Franklin County, $2,400 to $3,600; and Radford, $1,200 to $3,600.
The General Assembly sets a limit for each locality. But there are no guidelines for the limits, which are set on an individual basis.
The change to an elected board was a factor in asking for the higher salary limit in Roanoke County because most members had to spend some of their own money to help finance their campaigns, Canada said.
The elected board members are trying to be accessible and responsive to voters, he said.
"Our board members are putting in countless hours, meeting the demands of elected officials and trying to address school issues," Canada said.
Board members are not independently wealthy and have to make sacrifices to serve, he said. He believes elected officials ought to be able to recover their costs.
The board meets twice monthly, and the meetings usually last three to four hours. The members also serve on committees that meet frequently. They say they also answer calls and letters from parents and try to visit schools often.
In the past year, the board has held several special meetings related to planning a new Cave Spring High School and the upcoming $37.4 million school bond referendum on April 2.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB