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

DATE: MONDAY, February 14, 1994                   TAG: 9402140090
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RENOVATION DEBATE UNUSUALLY PUBLIC

The controversy over the estimated cost for converting the Roanoke County Occupational School into administrative offices for the school system has evoked strong feelings. And it has sparked some sharp words.

But neither the School Board nor the Board of Supervisors expects the debate to cause a major or lasting rift between them.

"I think we have a good working relationship with the supervisors - and I expect it to continue," said Frank Thomas, chairman of the School Board.

Supervisor Harry Nickens, the strongest critic of school officials on the renovation project, said he, too, believes the two boards can continue to work together.

"My comments were not personal. We butt heads sometimes, but we get over that and go on," Nickens said.

Disputes over the county schools usually are kept private. County officials point to the school system with pride. They tout their schools as being among the best in Virginia.

Seldom do you hear members of the Board of Supervisors criticize the School Board or top school administrators.

But it has happened in the debate over plans for converting the occupational school into administrative offices.

Nickens has charged that school officials underestimated the cost of the project. He wants the School Board to provide a monthly update on construction projects.

"I don't want to be intrusive, but I have to be accountable to taxpayers," Nickens said.

Thomas and school officials have acknowledged the cost might be as high as $800,000 to $1 million, or double the original estimate.

But Thomas said the School Board will convert the building into offices without asking the supervisors for more money.

Some board members believe Nickens' criticism was unfair - and they told him so in a joint meeting of the two boards. They defended the board's record on finances and building projects.

"This should be cleared up now. We have not spent more than what we had," said board member Maurice "Buck" Mitchell.

But Nickens said the School Board overspent its budget three years ago, and county finance officials were put in charge of overseeing school finances.

Thomas believes the controversy was caused by a misunderstanding over the cost of a new heating and air-conditioning system and by the possibility that the School Board would ask for more money.

The board never intended to ask for more than the $550,000 that had been allocated, Thomas said. But Nickens apparently got the impression the supervisors would be asked for more funds, he said.

"I think the whole thing got started when we were on a tour of the building and someone asked the architect about the cost," Thomas said. "The architect didn't indicate that some items might be taken out or delayed."

Superintendent Bayes Wilson said some supervisors apparently thought the county would have to pay for a new heating and air-conditioning system.

Although the School Board won't ask for more money, it will have to get the supervisors' approval for the lease-purchase agreement for the new heating and air-conditioning system.

Nickens said that leaves the project in a nebulous situation on cost, but school officials said the savings in energy costs will pay for the new equipment.

Nickens, a former School Board member, said he supports the schools and wants to give them as much money as possible.

"When I was on the board, I had tunnel vision and wanted to get all of the money that I could for schools," Nickens said.

But as a supervisor, Nickens said, he has to balance the county's competing financial needs. "I have to consider all of the departments - not just the schools."

Thomas said the supervisors have the right to ask about the School Board's financial needs. But he questions whether they can require the board to make monthly reports on its school projects as Nickens has requested.

Thomas said the School Board may have to delete some items from the renovation project because of the limited funds, but the project will be suitable for the schools' offices.