Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 5, 1994 TAG: 9409070014
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: TERRI LANGFORD
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I spoke at the Board of Supervisors' Aug. 23 meeting regarding the bond referendum. By the end of the meeting, I was infuriated with our representatives, H. Odell ``Fuzzy'' Minnix and Lee Eddy, for their shortsighted views. Eddy asked in the work session if the School Board felt that we needed a new Cave Spring High School in the next three to four years to provide quality education in Southwest Roanoke County. Unanimously, the School Board said yes. Yet Eddy stood by a memo that he had written earlier to oppose a bond referendum. This memo, may I add, had been written before the public hearing at which several people had spoken in support of letting voters decide, and no one spoke against.
Among several issues about the high school that have not been brought out or addressed by our representatives is that Cave Spring is the only high school in the area that doesn't have ninth-graders at the school. This causes numerous problems for our athletes and ninth-graders who aren't being counseled in a high-school environment as to needed classes for further education. It was stated on ``Good Morning America'' recently that ninth through 12th grade are looked at carefully for college placement. Graduation credits are counted from ninth through the 12th grade, and Cave Spring High School competes on the AAA level at which high schools statewide have their ninth grade at the high school. The fact that Cave Spring ninth-graders are now going to Cave Spring Junior and Hidden Valley Junior doesn't help them in any way.
Eddy stated that Cave Spring High School has a capacity of 1,200, and we only have 1,170 in enrollment. He forgets to note that the school was built for ninth through 12th grade, and we haven't had our ninth-graders there for approximately 14 years due to overcrowding. Minnix and Eddy have also stated that we have $2.5 million to add classrooms, yet it has been said that it may not be architecturally feasible to do this.
I've also been told that it would require much more money to bring the existing Cave Spring High School to an acceptable technological level. It has been said that the high school is far below state level in library and science labs. Adding classrooms to the existing high school doesn't address the lack of hallway space (when changing classes, students go outside to walk so they'll not be late to class), overcrowded athletic practice fields and gym, lack of parking, cafeteria space or numerous other problems. Unless Eddy or Minnix have been there personally to experience this, I don't believe they can possibly understand what the children deal with daily.
Concerning the projected growth of Roanoke County by 1 percent and school-enrollment figures expected to be flat for the next 10 years: I don't believe Eddy is looking at the facts that Penn Forest Elementary is the largest elementary school in the county, Back Creek has added several additional teachers to handle growth, and Oak Grove and Green Valley have a large number of students, all of which feed into the junior highs and Cave Spring High School.
It's also important to note that Back Creek was going to be closed, and has had to add two additions to meet the demand. Here is a prime example of the numbers not being accurate. Add to this mix the known amount of new construction and subdivisions already being developed, and others in the planning stages, and we have a serious situation as to where to put children who come to Roanoke County for quality education.
I believe Eddy is using the tax rate as a deterrent for what's important. Most people realize that you don't get services for free. In his letter, he neglected to mention this: At the Aug. 23 meeting, Bob Johnson listed several properties held by the county that could be sold, listed other taxes for ``luxury'' items, the $6 million in excess funds that the county has, and said he didn't believe such a large tax rate would be required. County staff members acknowledged that they hadn't taken into consideration these other options when stating there would have to be a tax increase.
Roanoke County has taken care of its water situation, trash disposal, sewage, etc., but still continues to put education on the back burner. Our county teachers do well with what they have, but it's time for us to stand up and say that we want education as a priority. Franklin County and Roanoke city have decided that they're going to make education a priority, and are having bond referendums put on the ballot. But Roanoke County supervisors strive only for adequacy.
It's time to make the community aware of school situations. Minnix and Eddy say parents are only 38 percent of the vote in the county and wouldn't stand a chance against the other 62 percent. I say the other 62 percent are grandparents and concerned citizens who know we need to help our children be educated in the best possible way to compete in this changing business world, to help provide for our social securities and economical growth. Am I wrong?
Terri Langford is a member of Concerned Parents for Roanoke County and president-elect of the PTA at Penn Forest Elementary School.
by CNB