Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 12, 1994 TAG: 9405120190
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Rouse, who is seeking public office for the first time, will oppose Evelyn Ball, a parent-teacher association leader who announced last month she would seek the position.
Several other people, including incumbent Barbara "Bootie" Chewning, are said to be interested in running for the seat. Chewning said she had not decided whether she will be a candidate.
This year's election will be the first time in Roanoke County that voters will select school board members. Current board member were selected by a commission appointed by the Roanoke County Circuit Court judges.
Rouse, 42, said his management and sales experience will help him deal with budget and financial issues for schools.
Rouse graduated from Radford University and planned to be a teacher, but he went into the transportation and trucking industry because salaries were too low and there was an overabundance of teachers.
When the trucking company for which he worked closed because of the sour economy, he began a new career in real estate.
A Roanoke County native, Rouse attended county schools and graduated from William Byrd High School. He obtained an associate degree at Virginia Western Community College before enrolling at Radford.
Rouse said he believes strongly in citizen involvement at every level of government, including the School Board.
In a paper on his stand on issues, he said he favors a tough discipline policy and the suspension of students who bring weapons to school or disrupt classes. Parents must be held accountable for the actions of their children, he said.
Rouse said family life and sex education classes should be directed toward abstinence and traditional family values.
He believes that time should be set aside for nondirected silent prayer in schools.
"Let students say a silent prayer based on the religious beliefs of their family, or sit silently while others observe the moment," he said.
Rouse said the county must have competitive salaries for teachers so it can recruit and keep the most talented teachers.
He opposes lowering educational standards, saying students must meet standards before they are promoted to the next grade.
"If Johnny can't read, then Johnny can't pass to the next grade," he said.
Rouse favors strong partnerships with businesses to develop programs for students who go directly into the work force after graduation.
He is married to Phyllis Kelley Rouse and lives in Vinton. They have two sons, Robert Jr., 16, and Christopher, 6.
The Hollins and Windsor Hills seats also will be up for election in November.
Jerry Canada, who represents the Hollins District, has filed his petitions to become a candidate to keep his seat.
Charlsie Pafford, who represents Windsor Hills, will not be a candidate in November because she said she has other things she wants to do.
There is already one candidate for the Windsor Hills seat - Raymond Denney, a quality control reviewer for the state Department of Social Services.
The seats of Chairman Frank Thomas of Catawba and Maurice "Buck" Mitchell of Cave Spring will be up for election in November 1995.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB