ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, March 11, 1997                TAG: 9703110119
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-1  EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: JOANNE POINDEXTER THE ROANOKE TIMES

BEDFORD CO. OFFICIALS DELAY DECISION ON OLD SCHOOL'S FATE

The Bedford County supervisors delayed action on the fate of the old Montvale Elementary School Monday despite a request from county Administrator Bill Rolfe for guidelines on its use.

The school closed in the spring of 1996 and a new school opened two miles away.

Since then, the old Montvale school has been used by the Bedford County recreation department for fall and winter sports. Also, the county has begun to store old street signs in a classroom.

Rolfe has had requests to start fitness classes at the school, and inquiries from a nursing-home company and a business incubator group in Lynchburg.

"We need some guidance, and we could save the county some money, " Rolfe told the board, adding that the county is renting space to store voting machines and other equipment.

Supervisor Dale Wheeler said the school should be considered a west-end recreation center for the county.

However, board members decided to put off planning a long-term decision until after they complete work on the county's budget.

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