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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1993                   TAG: 9312150229
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

STAGGERED SCHOOL BOARD RACES PLANNED

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to place three School Board seats on the November 1994 ballot and place the remaining two seats on the November 1995 ballot.

The plan - subject to approval by the General Assembly - would mean that at least two experienced School Board members would provide some continuity during a one-year transition period.

School Board Chairman Frank Thomas, who had warned that a too-short transition period would mean the "ruination" of county schools, said he was satisfied with the compromise.

Last month, the Board of Supervisors voted to hold a public hearing on a plan to put all five School Board seats on the November 1995 ballot, with terms beginning in January 1996.

The plan drew criticism from teachers and parents, who feared the county school system would suffer if the election resulted in a majority of new faces on the School Board.

Some - most notably Windsor Hills Supervisor Lee Eddy - called for a phased transition that would take until 1998 to complete.

Supervisor Bob Johnson of the Hollins District countered with a plan that recognized the need for a transition but also took into account that county voters last month overwhelmingly endorsed the concept of an elected School Board.

Three School Board members - representing Hollins, Vinton and Windsor Hills - will be elected in November 1994, and serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 1995.

The two remaining positions - from Catawba and Cave Spring - will be elected the following year, with four-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 1996.

The terms will be staggered to coincide with supervisor elections in each district.

A court-appointed selection commission will continue to fill vacancies and unexpired terms until the elections are phased in.

The compromise has some current School Board members thinking ahead to elections. Hollins District member Jerry Canada said he definitely would be a candidate next year. Even Thomas - who earlier flatly said that he would not run - said Tuesday that he would "never say never" to anything.

STAGGERED SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS\ November 1994: Hollins, Vinton, Windsor Hills\ November 1995: Catawba, Cave Spring