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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992                   TAG: 9203050504
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium

CRAIG TO SET UP ITS OWN SPECIAL-EDUCATION CLASS

Five Craig students, now enrolled in special-education classes in Roanoke County would be in the class that will start in September. But other students with the same type of disabilities entering school in September also could be enrolled.

For the past nine years, Craig has had a contract with Roanoke County to provide the special-education services. But now, the Craig board wants to move the students, to get away from busing and to keep the education process at home.

Craig is paying Roanoke County about $38,000 this year for the five and several other students who may not be moved because of their severe disabilities. The students are bused to Glen Cove Elementary School, more than 30 minutes away.

Craig will have to hire a new teacher, at a cost of about $27,000, excluding special equipment and other personnel for the class.

Robert Shaver, chairman of the board, voted against the move, saying this is a sensitive issue that needs the deepest consideration.

"These children's lives are at stake," he said.

Board Member Carrie Crawford also voted against moving the children because, she said, a small school system such as Craig's does not have the resources to provide the high quality education these children need.

Both Shaver and Crawford said they think it is undesirable to bus children daily from New Castle to Roanoke County, but they said that was outweighed by the benefits of a higher level program in Roanoke County.

The other three board members and Assistant Superintendent Don Ford said they are confident a suitable program could be set up in Craig.

On another matter, the board voted to go slow on a middle school.

The question came up when a study committee suggested moving the seventh grade from McCleary Elementary into the Craig County High School building.

The move would be twofold - initiating a middle school and helping to ease crowding in the elementary school. Board members hope they can create a middle school in existing buildings and not have to undertake an expensive building program.

But they balked at moving the seventh grade into the high school now because it would cause a classroom shuffle to accommodate the added students. They said the high school is running smoothly and they hesitated to do anything that might upset the operation.