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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 11, 1994                   TAG: 9405110114
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

O'NEIL'S OPINIONS MAY HAVE COST HER BOARD SEAT

Her participation in the protest over the two-for-one pension plan for City Council and top city officials two years ago angered some council members.

Most council members cite other reasons for replacing O'Neil, but some say privately that her role in the pension protest was a factor. O'Neil attended the protest meetings and sat with the organizers, but she did not speak.

They also said her style has created tension and uncertainty about whether she hoped to use her School Board seat as a springboard to run for council or other higher office.

When rumors surfaced last summer that she intended to run for council, O'Neil wrote to Councilman James Harvey to say she had no intention of seeking elected office.

On Monday, council chose John Saunders and Marsha Ellison to replace O'Neil and James Turner, an incumbent who was ineligible for a fourth term. Marilyn Curtis was reappointed to a third term.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles said she voted for Saunders and Ellison because they have children in city schools. With Turner's departure, Saunders and Ellison will be the only board members with children in school.

"I had nothing against [O'Neil], but I felt we needed someone with children,'' Bowles said.

O'Neil has a daughter in college.

Bowles said she felt that Ellison, president of the Central Council of the Parent-Teacher Association, could use her PTA contacts to build support for Superintendent Wayne Harris' programs and tough stand against drugs and weapons.

Harvey said Ellison's PTA background helped her win a seat. Several PTA leaders have applied for the board in recent years, but none has been appointed, he said. "Some of us thought it was time to appoint a PTA leader."

Councilman William White said O'Neil got caught in a numbers game. "We had five good applicants and only three seats," he said. One candidate, James Beatty, did not receive any votes.

Mayor David Bowers and Councilman John Edwards were the only council members who voted to reappoint O'Neil.

O'Neil, executive director of the Roanoke Valley YWCA, said Tuesday she won't speculate as to why she was replaced. She said she makes no apology for her stand on the pension plan and would do the same again.

In addition to her opposition to the pension plan, O'Neil may have irked some council members on another issue. She said the city has shown a lack of sensitivity to the Gainsboro neighborhood in plans for widening and realigning Wells Avenue.

O'Neil said she was not willing to remain silent on some issues in order to keep her seat on the School Board.

Both new members, Saunders and Ellison, said they believe that city schools are excellent and they want to help ensure that the high quality is retained.

A graduate of the University of Virginia and Harvard University, Saunders is a partner in a consulting and venture capital company, Princeton Associates.

Ellison, a graduate of Hollins College, is in her second year as president of the Central Council PTA.

Saunders said he will focus on finances and try to ensure that the schools are operated efficiently and that adequate funds are available.

He also wants the School Board to recognize teachers for their work with children and the extra time they devote to their jobs for the benefit of students.

Saunders believes the schools should become involved in the effort to reduce teen pregnancy.

Both Ellison and Saunders said they support the School Board's recent expulsions of eight students for bringing weapons or drugs to school.

"Our schools are safe, and we have nothing to hide. By expelling the students, we are preventing problems that might have happened otherwise," Ellison said.

Ellison said she doesn't advocate any immediate changes in the schools but hopes that class sizes in all of the elementary grades eventually can be reduced. The city will receive $1 million in disparity funds to reduce the class size in kindergarten through third grade to 18 in some schools and 20 in others.

Ellison said she hopes the city continues to raise teacher salaries so it can remain competitive with other school divisions in the Roanoke Valley and comparable cities in the state.

"We need to do better for our teachers," she said.