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

DATE: TUESDAY, October 26, 1993                   TAG: 9403180019
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By ARNOLD J. SAARI
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOL CHANGE

MONTGOMERY County residents, along with those of nine other localities in this part of the state, will have the opportunity on Nov. 2 to break from the present supervisor-appointed selection method to the direct election of school board members by the electorate. It's a process whose time has come.

Opponents of an elected school board contend that an elected board cannot function adequately without taxing authority. They claim it will weaken the board's ability to provide ``quality'' education to students. It should be obvious by now that money alone has not and will not solve the woes of public education.

In fact, it would be refreshing if potential school board candidates and present members would delve more deeply into the curriculum and instructional areas that are the backbones of any educational enterprise. Many excellent methods and programs are available that are very cost-effective, especially at the elementary level.

Of equal importance is to keep the taxing authority with the governing body that is legally responsible for funding county programs. It would be foolhardy to relinquish control of a county budget that is 75 percent to 80 percent school-system driven. Careful analysis should conclude that the democratic election of school board members and the authority to levy taxes are two separate entities and should not be linked together. It should be abundantly clear that society does not need another governing body with taxing authority.

Proponents of the present selection process contend that the appointment method promotes more diversity of membership, creates a better working relationship with the board of supervisors and results in a higher quality school board member.

History shows that Montgomery County only recently appointed a minority to the school board. A democratic election might have produced a minority member years ago, even in a county where minorities are small in number.

It should be noted also that past relationships between the School Board and the Board of Supervisors have been rather rocky at times, and should be no worse with an elected school board.

Finally, history will attest to the fact that Montgomery County has had its share of excellent, average and below-average School Board members. The method of attaining membership does not guarantee any particular degree of quality.

Arnold J. Saari of Blacksburg is former superintendent of schools of Montgomery County.

by CNB