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

DATE: FRIDAY, May 13, 1994                   TAG: 9405130128
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ROANOKE COUNTY SCHOOLS TO OPEN EARLY

Thomas, chairman of the county School Board, had to cast the decisive vote Thursday night because the five-member board was deadlocked when it came time for him to vote.

Thomas broke the tie by voting to open schools Aug.29, the same day that Salem schools will open. Roanoke's schools will open Sept.7. The city is ineligible for the early opening because it missed fewer than 10 days this winter because of bad weather.

Unless the School Board takes advantage of the opportunity before Labor Day this year, Thomas said the county would be hard-pressed to persuade the General Assembly to change state law to permit schools to open before Labor Day.

The state's tourism industry has persuaded the General Assembly to reject bills permitting the early opening.

The state Board of Education, in a one-time waiver, has agreed to allow schools to open before Labor Day if the school divisions meet two conditions: They must have missed 10 days this year because of bad weather, and they must be closed Sept.6 and 7 for the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashana.

Two members of the Roanoke County board - Barbara "Bootie" Chewning and Jerry Canada - opposed the early opening. They thought it would disrupt the instructional program and interfere with the construction schedule for renovations to some school buildings.

Homer Duff, director of facilities and operations for the schools, said some of the construction work won't be finished until Labor Day.

Chewning said she also was concerned that students will be off so many days in the first two weeks of school that they might not learn as much.

County students will attend school from Aug.29 to Sept.2. Schools will be closed on Labor Day, Sept.5, and Sept.6 and 7 for the Jewish holiday. They will be reopen Sept.8.

Canada, who voted against the early opening, said that the first two weeks of school will be so disjointed that it will be almost like three opening days.

Vice Chairman Maurice "Buck" Mitchell said he didn't like the schedule for the first two weeks, "but we might have to play politics a little to get what we want."

Deanna Gordon, assistant superintendent, said the advisory committee on the school calendar was sharply divided on the issue, voting 8 to 7 for the early opening. School officials have received many phone calls on both sides of the issue, she said.

Gordon said the early opening will provide more scheduling flexibility and will enable students to get out of school earlier. The schools also can include snow days in the calendar.

Thomas said he understands Duff's plight on the construction projects, but he said the county can't afford not to take advantage of the opportunity to start early. Otherwise, he said, the lobbying effort to change the opening law might be futile.