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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 15, 1993                   TAG: 9306150358
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-7   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL OUT FOR GOOD AT JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY

The 69-year-old school, the oldest in Pulaski County, closed for good after classes ended last week. The pupils will be distributed next year among Critzer, Claremont and Northwood elementary schools.

Pupils in Thelma Hampton's second-grade class proudly displayed their final project, a replica of the White House and grounds. Others went swinging for the last time on school playground equipment.

A computer-printed sign on the front door summed up the feelings of many at the school that day:

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched but are felt in the heart. Memories - Jefferson School."

Wanda Collins, a parent, said the sentiment had been printed on a paper towel. Her daughter, Stacy, in second-grade at Jefferson, used her home computer to reproduce it with the "Jefferson School" addition. Collins said some of the teachers started crying when she presented it to them.

After a long study, school officials decided to close Jefferson because of declining student population. The county has been losing about 100 students a year.

The county has not decided the future of the building, but possible uses have been proposed, including an adult-education center, the site for the schools' External Diploma Program, a teen center, a site for preparing in-home meals for the elderly, a shelter for juveniles, space to expand Pulaski Head Start, New River Community Action offices, or space for the Pulaski County Community Relations Office or the county chamber of commerce.

\ EXTENDED DAY-CARE SURVEY\ \ CLAREMONT ELEMENTARY: Surveys returned: 98. 70. Not interested: 28.Interested in before-school care: 32. After-school care: 62. Number of pupils who might participate: 105.\ \ RIVERLAWN: Surveys returned: 117. 81. Not interested: 36. Interested in before-school care: 55. After-school care: 80. Number of pupils who might participate: 96.\ \ DUBLIN: Surveys returned: 184. Interested: 104. Not interested: 80. Interested in before-school care: 49. AFter-school care: 99. Number who might participate: 150.\ \ CRITZER: Surveys returned: 68. Interested: 42. Not interested: 26. Interested in before-school care: 22. After=school care: 38. Number who might participate: 54.\ \ NORTHWOOD: Surveys returned: 49. Interested: 33. Not interested: 16. Interested in before-school care: 14. After-school care: 31. Number who might participate: 44.\ \ NEWBERN: Surveys returned: 36. Interested: 20. Not interested: 16. Interested in before-school care: 11. After-school care: 18. Number who might participate: 31.\ \ SNOWVILLE: Surveys returned: 44. Interested: 23. Not interested: 21. Interested in before-school care: 13. After-school care: 21. Number who might participate: 35.\ \ DRAPER: Surveys returned: 45. Interested: 28. Not interested: 17. Interested in before-school care: 16. After-school care: 27. Number who might participate: 38.\ \ JEFFERSON: (Closed last week; pupils to be assigned among Critzer, Claremont and Northwood schools) Surveys returned: 52. Interested 34. Not interested: 18. Interested in before-school care: 17. After-school care: 32. Number who might participate: 52.