Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 10, 1993 TAG: 9306100040
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HILLSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Three of the six supervisors argued repeatedly with several of the speakers who were asking them to increase local school funding for 1993-94, and four supervisors actually applauded one of the four people who said more money was no solution.
Most of the applause during the 1 1/2-hour hearing came from about 50 people crowded into the meeting room at the Carroll County Public Library in support of more school money.
Many of them had been among the several hundred who staged a two-hour education rally outside the courthouse one week earlier. The issue of school funding seems to have ignited more public interest this year, possibly because of citizen involvement in the year-old Friends Organized Regarding Carroll Education and a 21-member task force to help guide the school system on capital improvement needs.
"I think there's an opportunity here," Ted Reavis told the supervisors about the citizen interest. "This is a positive thing."
The board will not formally adopt its 1993-94 budget for another two weeks. The $3,594,186 now proposed would be about $75,500 more in local funds than schools got this year.
The School Board originally asked for $4,554,119, then cut $504,770 when the supervisors said that was too much.
The supervisors then ordered cuts totaling $450,000 more. The School Board unsuccessfully sought a meeting with the supervisors to talk it over.
The supervisors have estimated that it would take a 37 percent tax increase to fund the original school budget request. No tax increases are planned.
"I respect your attempt at fiscal responsibility," said Jeff Sebens, a member of the FORCE citizens' group. "But it's impossible for us to foster a climate of educational reform if you insist on putting us on a starvation diet."
Chairman Billy Barker and Supervisors Emmett Jones, Coy Hill and C.A. "Crickett" McDonald applauded Randy Mason, a speaker who called FORCE a political group, said the citizens' task force was just to push school officials' agendas, complained of poor school discipline and the removal of religion from classrooms, and criticized public schools in general.
Walter McCraw, a minister and former supervisor, said he knew too many people on fixed incomes who could not afford tax increases. Tom West told the board it was doing a good job.
West jumped up from his seat visibly angry when a teacher, Doug Reavis, said he typified what was wrong with Carroll County. Reavis later apologized to him.
by CNB