Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 17, 1994 TAG: 9403170132
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The 55-year-old school can be renovated at a cost of $60 per square foot, compared to $62 per square foot for new construction, architects told the Salem School Board on Wednesday night.
Bob Fry of Kinsey, Shane and Associates said expanding the school to 75,000 square feet would cost an estimated $4.5 million.
In addition, site improvements could cost another $750,000 to $1 million, he said.
School officials say a new or expanded school is needed because the building is old and has several deficiencies, including classrooms that are too small by state standards.
The school serves 400 children, but officials say the capacity needs to be expanded to 600 to accommodate growth in the North Salem area.
The School Board has decided to delay a decision until a public hearing can be held to get the community's sentiments on the project.
The Carver school is historically significant because it was the high school for blacks from all parts of Roanoke County before schools were integrated - and before Salem became a city. It served as the school for all black children in the first through 12th grades at one point.
Roanoke School Superintendent Wayne Harris attended Carver when he was growing up.
Lucy Harmon, a former teacher at Carver, and several other Salem residents attended the board meeting to hear the architects' report. Her husband was principal at Carver from 1953 until 1966, when the school was integrated.
Harmon did not speak at the meeting, but she said afterward that the black community does not want the school to be torn down for a new structure.
The renovation and expansion proposal appears to be acceptable, Harmon said, but she has concerns that too much of the original building might be demolished.
Fry told the board that the proposals are only concepts at this stage - not plans. Some parts of the building could be demolished, and others would be completely renovated, he said.
The Carver site has only 5 acres and does not meet the state standard of 10 acres for similar schools. But school officials believe they could get the state to waive the 10-acre requirement.
Before a decision is made, School Superintendent Wayne Tripp said school officials need to develop a plan for educating the children during the renovations.
Fry said he believes the construction could be arranged so children could still use the building. Tripp said it might require some mobile classrooms.
Board member Glenn Thornhill said the Carver decision is the board's most important since Salem developed its own school system. The board needs to determine if there is a 10-acre site for a new building to serve the Carver and North Salem area, Thornhill said.
"We have to look at all options and decide whether it makes sense to renovate an older building," he said. "Will this be a 21st-century facility that will last us 50 years?"
On another building matter, the board voted to hire consulting engineers to make a recommendation on repairing a leaky roof at West Salem Elementary School. Bad weather this winter has hampered repairs and caused major leaks.
School officials had hoped to make repairs during spring break. They say a new roof is needed and could cost up to $290,000. Before the board acts, Thornhill said, it needs an independent assessment on the best type of roof for the school.
by CNB