`KIDS, SCHOOLS, TAXES' MOTIVATE ELECTION-PETITION DRIVE

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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 27, 1993                   TAG: 9301270125
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: INDIAN VALLEY                                LENGTH: Medium
`KIDS, SCHOOLS, TAXES' MOTIVATE ELECTION-PETITION DRIVE
Gene Bishop says it is "our kids, our schools and our taxes" that prompted him to start a petition to allow voters to elect School Board members in Floyd County.
Under current policy School Board members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
The Floyd County father of two, along with his brother Clyde Bishop and Dr. Larry McCoy, began circulating a petition Jan. 12 to put the question on the Nov. 2 ballot.
At least 10 percent of the county's registered voters must sign the petition. In Floyd County, 624 signatures will represent that percentage.
"I've got around 210 signatures on this end," Bishop said. "I'm not sure yet what Clyde and Dr. McCoy have, but if it's close to me, then we've just about got enough already."
Clyde Bishop could not be reached for his totals, but McCoy, a dentist from the Pilot section of the county, said he has collected about 60 signatures so far. But both men expect they will have no problem collecting all 624 signatures.
"I think it's going to go," Bishop said. "It needed to be on the ballot this time. I think it will improve the creativity of the whole process and it's a much better system."
In 1992, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law to allow localities to petition to have elected school boards considered in a referendum. Until than, Virginia was the only state that did not allow elected school boards.
Petitioners in more than 30 counties and seven cities across the state have taken the General Assembly up on that legislation.
If the question is put on the November ballot and passes, the Board of Supervisors no longer will appoint School Board members. Board member Edsel Duncan thinks that is a good idea.
"I think it's the way to go . . . " he said. "I think [elected school boards] may give us a better slate of people that understand the schools."
The current Floyd County School Board members have three years left on their four-year terms, so if the referendum passes no new members will be elected until 1995. But that does not concern the petitioners.
"There are no problems [with the current School Board]," McCoy said. "In fact, I think they're working hard and doing a good job. But since this became available, we at least wanted to give the people an opportunity to have more say-so in choosing."
Bishop agrees.
"The Board of Supervisors has control of the money, and they appoint the School Board," Bishop said. "It will be good for the School Board members because they're sort of beholding to the Board of Supervisors. Now they'll be beholding to the people."
Once the required number of signatures is collected, Bishop said, it will be up to the voters.
"I'm just a citizen, not a group, and I won't be campaigning," he said. "I'm just going to let the people decide."

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB