SUPERVISORS COULD REVOKE OK FOR SCHOOL BONDS

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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 19, 1992                   TAG: 9202190140
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FLOYD                                LENGTH: Medium
SUPERVISORS COULD REVOKE OK FOR SCHOOL BONDS
The Floyd County Board of Supervisors gave its blessing to the proposed $390,000 in school bonds Tuesday - at least temporarily.
The supervisors passed a resolution approving the county's application for the Virginia Public School Authority bonds.
But bond counsel F.B. Webster Day told the supervisors that they could change their minds. They would have to inform the authority of the county's intention to seek less money or not to participate before the mid-April bond sale.
The measure passed 3-2, with Edsel Duncan and Chairman Howard Dickerson voting no.
The supervisors' concern centered on the auxiliary gym for the high school, estimated to cost $240,000. The rest of the money is to be used for grading and site improvements at all the county schools.
The gym would help separate eighth-graders from the rest of the students, simulating a middle-school environment. "I don't really see how helpful a gymnasium would be for implementing the middle-school concept," Dickerson said. `It would be like getting 10 cents return on a dollar instead of 99 cents on a dollar."
School Superintendent Omar Ross and School Board member Doug Phillips then informed the supervisors the gymnasium would be used to separate physical education classes. Other eighth-grade classes would be on the lower level near the office.
They added that by building the gym, which would include two classrooms, they could meet the needs of students now instead of having to wait several years.
When Dickerson asked if the gym was needed for the school-within-a-school concept, Ross said, "I won't tell you that is the only way we can do it. But it is a commitment we made as a School Board that we work with the faculty and staff to do what we can for our students."
Meanwhile, Duncan and Jerry Boothe expressed concerns about the county taking on additional debt. William Whitlock thought it would be better to use state Literary Loan money for the gym, and David Ingram wondered how much building could be built for $240,000.
All five speakers at Tuesday's public hearing were in favor of the new facility. And all four letters read also were for the bond issue.
"Separating the eighth- and ninth-grade physical education classes is a good idea," said Elizabeth Williams. "It's a move toward the middle-school concept for Floyd County."
Jerry Hill, in a letter, told about the threats his son experienced as an eighth-grader.
He "was never comfortable in school again. That shouldn't happen to any child. I have another son who will be an eighth-grader in three years. What will he face?"
About the nearest thing to a negative comment was when Dwight Wood, who made it clear he supported the idea of new school facilities, made the same point as Ingram that the building cost may be underestimated.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB