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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 11, 1993                   TAG: 9308110168
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

WORKER SOUGHT TO HELP CONTROL KIDS' BEHAVIOR AT LIBRARY

Betty Jones, president of the city's CADRE group, also asked for a room with tables and chairs in the Recreation Center, right across First Street from the library, for students who just want to "socialize and eat." She also asked for another part-time employee to keep an eye on them while there.

The recommendations, made to council during its Monday meeting, are part of a plan by the local chapter of CADRE - the Commonwealth Alliance for Drug Rehabilitation and Education - to deal with students who have no place to go after school.

In March, Library Director Ann Fisher told council that her staff was unable to deal with the disruption caused by an extra 50 to 60 students each school day.

"We all feel this is a community problem that needs a community response," Jones told council. She said CADRE - which includes representatives from the library, the schools and the Recreation Commission - has looked into the problem for at least a year.

"This was not brought to you lightly," she said.

The plan also proposes that the Recreation Department provide arcade games and other recreational activities for the youths, who have found the library a convenient gathering spot between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. during the school year, to the dismay of library staffers.

"As my granny would say, `This is just trouble looking for a place to happen,' " Jones said of the students, most of whom come from nearby Radford High and Dalton Intermediate schools.

While some of the students make appropriate use of the library, the majority just uses it as a convenient place to hang out while waiting for rides or for parents to get home from work, "intimidating other library users by their sheer numbers," said a CADRE statement.

CADRE has estimated the first-year cost of the two part-time workers and the additional equipment at $6,850.

Jones said CADRE explored the idea of a teen center but found it too expensive and grant funding unavailable.

She also said the schools have been reluctant to provide a gathering spot at either the high school or intermediate school. "We haven't officially approached the School Board, but we've been told that's not going to happen," she said.

Fisher said school officials she has spoken with were not interested in taking on another problem. "While they were sympathetic, they felt their responsibility ended at 2:30," she said.

Recreation Director Ken Goodyear said after the meeting that he has arranged to install two video arcade games in the Recreation Center. He said he plans to meet with Superintendent of Schools Michael Wright and other school officials next week.

Councilman David Worrell asked Jones if volunteers from Radford University service organizations could fill the gap at the library and recreation center.

Fisher pointed out that the university lets out weeks before the school year ends, and that volunteer help in the past has been inconsistent and, in some cases, only added to the problem.

Jones and Fisher agreed with an assessment by Councilman Bob Nicholson that CADRE's plan would not be a permanent solution.

"There's going to be a group of students, no matter what we provide, who will not participate," said Jones, adding that CADRE just wants to "minimize the negative consequences."

She also said the additional supervision at the library and rec center could simply drive the problem elsewhere.

CADRE will continue to look into ways of funding a teen center in Radford, Jones said.

In other council business, a joint public hearing of council and the Planning Commission on the city's comprehensive plan drew no citizen comments and only a few from council members. The plan, which the city must update every five years, is used to guide public and private development within Radford.

The latest version also includes the Virginia 177 corridor. Radford and Montgomery County have agreed to cooperate on developing the corridor, which connects the city with Interstate 81.