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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 7, 1995                   TAG: 9501090028
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                  LENGTH: Medium

RADFORD SCHOOLS SEEKING BUDGET INCREASE FOR NEXT YEAR

The city's schools are seeking a $1.9 million budget increase for the 1995-96 school year, a large chunk of it earmarked for additions at Radford's two elementary schools and for pay raises for school employees.

The School Board unanimously approved the nearly $10.3 million budget Thursday and sent it on to City Council, which will be asked to come up with the lion's share, just over $6.2 million. Most of the rest will come from the state. Superintendent Michael Wright has said he expects only an additional $50,000 from Richmond next school year.

Radford Education Association President Betty Whitley, spoke in favor of the proposed budget. "The needs are apparent and both reflect careful consideration of the students and parents we serve and the citizens of Radford ...," she said.

Average 3.9 percent pay increases for teachers and other school employees account for $292,700 of the budget increase.

The School Board and City Council sit down together Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Radford Public Library to discuss priorities for various capital projects - including building expansions - and how to pay for them. The city already plans to float an estimated $6 million bond issue to cover the costs of several city projects, including required improvements at Radford's water treatment plant. Council has proposed setting aside $1 million of the bond issue for school projects. However, school officials have worried that the bond issue process may take too long to include projects the School Board considers top priorities.

The 1995-96 budget includes money to add new art and music classrooms at Belle Heth Elementary School, additional classrooms and a new dining room at McHarg Elementary School, gifted education classrooms at both elementary schools, and office-care rooms for a school nurse at both elementary schools and at Radford High School.

Wright has called the new art and music classrooms at Belle Heth "an absolute necessity" for 1995-96 as burgeoning enrollments in the lower grades have filled the school to the bursting point. Money for a similar addition at McHarg Elementary School is in the current year's budget.

School officials also want to add classrooms to Dalton Intermediate School, and money for that work could be included in the bond issue, Wright said.

The proposed budget also includes almost $687,000 for new technology, much of that for new computer equipment, and more than $157,000 in additional money for other capital requests, including paving and painting work, furniture, carpeting and new or replacement instructional equipment.

by CNB