Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 16, 1993 TAG: 9310160066
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL CSOLLANY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
At the final public hearing on the 1994-95 school budget Thursday night, the Montgomery County School Board was addressed by teachers, parents, students, and concerned citizens stating the importance of the fine arts - and more specifically, the performing arts.
Rosemary Jones, representing the choral boosters of Christiansburg High School, said it's difficult to raise enough funds to send students to district and state contests. "It's hard to tell a student to go and do [your] best, but don't do too well, because it'll cost you," she said.
Others requested funds for uniforms for the chorus, which sang the national anthem at Yankee Stadium last year and which has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Band Director Fred Chang said 75 percent of the Christiansburg high school's instruments were purchased in the '80s or earlier. "My oldest instrument is older than me - purchased in 1963," he said.
Charlena LaLuz, drama director at Christiansburg high school, lamented the condition of the auditorium and its lighting system. "We are frequently the only part of the school system that people see and use," she said.
Charlotte Smith, choral director at Christiansburg High School, asked the board to allocate more money toward supplemental pay. County choral directors supervise trips, contests, musical productions, and special ensembles - all beyond their regular duties, she said.
In other news:
Conditions of the track and tennis courts at Christiansburg high school were criticized.
"I've been running cross-county, indoor and outdoor track for four years. And in those four years, I have yet to see a track in worse condition than ours," said Jeremy Cosgriff, a senior.
The success of the team, which has won several state and regional titles, merits the improvement of the facilities, he said.
Vicki Helbling, vice president of the PTSA at Christiansburg High School, said her daughter injured her ankle on the cracked pavement. "The School Board might be held accountable if someone gets hurt," she said.
Helbling also requested more funds for science equipment.
Tamela Trussell, a biology teacher at Christiansburg High School, spoke about the benefits of a computer laboratory. A frog dissection procedure could be done on the computer, which would eliminate the difficulties - the costs of the specimens, worn-out scalpels and scissors, and the difficulties of preserving the specimens over the multi-day lab, she said.
Christiansburg High School Principal George Porterfield recommended that lands surrounding the school be purchased with future expansion in mind.
by CNB