ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997 TAG: 9702200018
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE AND PAUL DELLINGER
*The Montgomery County School Board brought school improvements in Blacksburg and Shawsville one step closer to reality Tuesday. The board agreed to ask Mills, Oliver & Webb, the architectural firm that designed the new elementary school in Riner, to develop conceptual drawings for the renovated and expanded middle school in Blacksburg and the new high school near Elliston. Drawings for a new middle school in Christiansburg won't be possible until a site has been selected.
The Board of Supervisors gave $25,000 to the School Board to develop the drawings. Some supervisors want the school building project to go to voters this fall as a bond referendum. Drawings of the proposed buildings would help sell the project, they reasoned. The supervisors have not decided whether to seek a referendum or simply apply for state loans themselves. Tuesday, the School Board approved a letter stating it supported any decision the Board of Supervisors made to fund the schools.
As long as the drawings cost under $30,000, the School Board does not legally have to take bids from competing companies. Some members said they wanted to anyway, to guarantee the lowest price. But the public knows how much the board can spend, argued Roy Vickers, and using the Blacksburg-based architectural and engineering firm would save time. Hiring Mills, Oliver & Webb for the drawings does not guarantee it will be used for the actual construction of the school.
*Tuesday night, the Pulaski Town Council voted its support of the Vision 2020 plan drawn up over a period of years by the New River Valley Planning District Commission. The strategic plan for this region was prompted by the job reductions at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant along with other plant closings and employee downsizings.
Upcoming:
*The Radford School Board will hold its regular midmonth meeting, postponed from last week, tonight. The board will review its budget proposal before sending it to the city Friday. The board could also adopt science and social studies textbooks for McHarg Elementary School and discuss a world history course at Radford High.
*Members of Pulaski Town Council will hold a long-range planning and goal-setting workshop from 2:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. They will hear from a finance official with Municipal Advisors Inc. on public financing of community development and capital assets. Other topics to be discussed include leadership, creating a community vision, goal-setting and priorization.
*A declaration honoring Confederate soldiers in the Civil War will be considered by Pulaski Town Council at its next regular meeting at 4 p.m. March 4. The Jubal Early Camp of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans has asked council to declare April as Confederate Heritage Month, and April 26 as Confederate Memorial Day to include a celebration in Jackson Park. The group chose April because that was the month in which the Civil War began and ended. The resolution which council is being asked to adopt describes the conflict both as tragic and heroic, and praises those who fought in it for their support of states' rights.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB