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

DATE: FRIDAY, September 10, 1993                   TAG: 9309100278
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HEARING PLANNED ON CHOOSING NEW SCHOOLS LEADER

Roanoke County residents who have an idea of what they'd like their next school superintendent to be like will have a chance to voice their opinions at a School Board public hearing in two weeks.

The board agreed Thursday night to hold a hearing Sept. 23, and appointed a 10-member committee to give more formal input into the selection of the county's new school chief.

The committee members will be invited to attend the hearing so that they can incorporate some of those ideas into their suggestions, Board Chairman Frank Thomas said.

Thomas said he hopes to advertise the position starting in October for 60 days, setting an application deadline of Dec. 15.

The School Board intends to select someone to replace retiring Superintendent Bayes Wilson by March 1. If it fails to appoint someone by then, the state Board of Education will do so.

To help outline a list of qualifications for applicants, the board appointed five representatives from school-related organizations and one representative from each of the five School Board districts. They were: Roanoke County Education Association President Debbie McClure; Roanoke County PTA President Evelyn Ball; Association of Roanoke County School Administrators President Dennis Semones; Shirley Feazelle, representing county school system classified employees; Glenn McQuate, of the Chamber of Commerce; Steve Musselwhite; Frank Caldwell; Fred Weaver; Ron Martin; and David Shelor.

It remains unclear what role, if any, the committee will play in reviewing applications and selecting job candidates. Thomas said the board was leaning toward allowing the committee some authority for selecting a "short list" of candidates.

Also up for discussion Thursday were the county's upcoming ballot questions on methods for selecting School Board members.

Board member Maurice "Buck" Mitchell said he wanted the board to go on record supporting the current system, in which a judicially appointed selection committee appoints members.

One ballot question will ask voters if they want to elect School Board members directly. Another asks if they want the Board of Supervisors to appoint them.

Mitchell said he was concerned that people didn't understand the third option, which is to leave the system as is.

He and other board members fear that voters won't know they have another choice because community groups have been inviting proponents of both ballot questions to speak on the issue but neglecting to include School Board members or others who don't want to change the process.

Members may support that option as individuals, School Board Attorney Joe Obenshain said, but they may not raise money or appoint a committee as a public body.

by CNB