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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991                   TAG: 9104120863
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: N-18   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS/ CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FINCASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium

LOAN OK'D FOR BOTETOURT SCHOOL WORK

Botetourt County has been approved for a loan from the state Literary Fund, clearing the way for $1.6 million renovation projects at Breckinridge and Cloverdale elementary schools.

B.H. Griffith, assistant superintendent, told the school board during its April meeting that the work can be advertised immediately and the bidding opened in mid-May. On that timetable, Griffith said, construction can begin early in June just after schools close.

The work includes about $900,000 worth of renovations and new construction at Cloverdale Elementary and about $775,000 at Breckinridge in Fincastle.

New libraries will be built at both schools at for about $165,408 at Breckinridge and $51,480 at Cloverdale.

The schools will get air conditioners, new windows, carpeting and light fixtures for classrooms and other areas used by students. Cloverdale also will get a new faculty lounge, and Breckinridge will get new administrative offices.

The work at Breckinridge includes $86,000 for refurbishing sidewalks and driveways, and Cloverdale will get a new bus loading area.

In another matter, the board approved the 1991-92 calendar. Schools open Sept. 3 and close June 5. The Thanksgiving holiday will be on Nov. 28 and 29 and Christmas from Dec. 23-Jan. 1. The spring break will be April 17-21, 1992.

Superintendent C.S. McClure recognized Botetourt students who participated in the recent Odyssey of the Mind competition at Virginia Tech. Botetourt had 155 students competing in the event with 55 of them winning first, second or third places, he said.

Six Odyssey teams from Botetourt will compete in the state competition at Blacksburg on April 27. State winners will go on to the international finals at Knoxville, Tenn., May 24-26.

The Botetourt board once again heard opposition to its proposal to create a middle school in the James River High School building.

The Buchanan Elementary School PTA presented a resolution urging the board to continue seeking alternatives to putting a middle school at James River rather than mixing the younger middle-school students with the older high-school students.

The Breckinridge Elementary PTA also has opposed the plan, and the PTA at Eagle Rock Elementary has met with school officials and expressed reservations about the plan.

by CNB