Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408250083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"Sometime we have got to face reality. We have got school needs, and they will have to be met," Canada said.
He said he has been frustrated by the back-and-forth meetings with the supervisors and the studies on the bond issue - and the time wasted by school administrators now that there will be no referendum.
``All we can do is to identify the needs and ask the supervisors to fund them,'' Canada said. "We won't give up. We have tried to be positive. But now we have to start over again."
Another School Board member, Maurice "Buck" Mitchell, said he was discouraged by the supervisors' decision.
"I thought they would at least go with a $10 million issue, if not $30 million," Mitchell said.
On a 3-2 vote Tuesday night, the supervisors rejected a $30 million bond issue, which would have included $20 million for a new Cave Spring High, and a smaller $10 million referendum.
Both plans would have included money for a new gymnasium at Northside High School and for major renovations at several schools.
Supervisors Bob Johnson and Ed Kohinke pressed for a bond referendum in November, saying county voters should have the chance to make the decision.
Johnson said he couldn't understand why the other three supervisors - Chairman Lee Eddy, Fuzzy Minnix and Harry Nickens - wouldn't allow voters to decide the issue.
They cited varying reasons, including the tax increase that would be required, the lack of time to educate voters on the need for the school buildings and the other needs that compete with schools for money.
Eddy said a $30 million bond issue would require an 8-cent increase in the real-estate tax rate, but Johnson said it would be only 4 or 5 cents.
Despite the supervisors' rejection of the bond proposals, School Board Chairman Frank Thomas said he remains optimistic that the school building and equipment needs will be met.
The supervisors authorized the School Board to seek a $2.2 million loan from the Virginia Public School Authority this fall for several projects. The county also will determine whether the VPSA can provide $1 million for computers and instructional technology.
The VPSA is a school-financing agency that provides low-interest loans for school buildings and equipment. The county also will obtain state Literary Loan funds for some projects that were not included in the bond proposals.
Thomas said the supervisors might allow the board to seek VPSA money next spring to finance a new gymnasium at Northside High School and renovations at several schools.
"We might get most of what we had in the $10 million bond proposal," Thomas said.
Thomas said the School Board is willing to work with the supervisors - either with a bond issue or VPSA funding - to get the money for the projects in the $10 million bond proposal.
Superintendent Deanna Gordon said a new Cave Spring High School is needed so the students in South Roanoke County can be distributed like those in other parts of the county.
The other county high schools have grades nine-12, with middle schools for grades six through eight.
But, because of space restrictions, Cave Spring High has only grades 10-12. Ninth-graders in the Cave Spring area attend Cave Spring Junior High or Hidden Valley Junior High schools.
Minnix said he would vote to have a $30 million bond referendum next year, even if it requires a tax increase. That would allow enough time to explain the need for the money to voters, he said.
If the county finances some school projects with VPSA funds, it would reduce the $30 million bond issue - but not the $20 million needed for a new Cave Spring High School.
That could undercut the countywide appeal of the bond issue and reduce the chances for approval if it includes only the Cave Spring project.
Canada said he still questions whether the supervisors are willing to raise taxes to help pay for the school improvements. Even without a bond issue, Canada said, taxes may have to be increased to repay VPSA funds and Literary Loans.
Nearly a dozen speakers from the Cave Spring area, backed by another two dozen people who applauded, urged the supervisors Tuesday to schedule a $30 million referendum this year.
Tom Leggette, a candidate for the Windsor Hills seat on the School Board, asked the supervisors to grant the request, saying the citizens should make the decision.
James McAden said the schools need attention now that the county has spent millions of dollars in recent years on a water supply, landfill, airport and sewage-treatment plant. He said there has been a groundswell of support for a new Cave Spring High School in the past month.
McAden said Roanoke and several other nearby localities will have a bond issue for schools on the ballot in November. Roanoke County runs the risk of losing its position as a leader in education in the region if it does not have a referendum, he said.
by CNB