Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9412230087
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
All candidates say they believe that a new high school, estimated to cost between $20 million and $25 million, is needed in Southwest County.
Even the candidates in the Vinton district say they would support a new high school across the county as long as it doesn't take funds away from projects in their area.
"From what I hear, yes, we need a new Cave Spring High School," said Evelyn Ball, a candidate in the Vinton district. "We also need to take a look at a new elementary school in the Bonsack area."
Another Vinton candidate, Michael Stovall, said he would support a referendum for a new school. And Robert Rouse said he would support a new school if it doesn't hurt Vinton schools.
All candidates in the Windsor Hills district favor construction of a new high school without reservation. Most wanted the Board of Supervisors to hold a referendum this year for it.
"It should have been put to a referendum this year. The ninth-graders need to be in a high school," said Wayne Newman, a candidate in Windsor Hills.
Because the high school is overcrowded, ninth-graders attend Cave Spring and Hidden Valley junior high schools.
Elected School Board members will likely have more political clout and can bring more pressure on the Board of Supervisors than an appointed board to provide the money or a referendum for the new high school.
On a 3-2 vote last summer, the supervisors rejected a referendum, with some saying there wasn't enough time to convince voters of the need for a new school and a large bond issue. Others said they didn't see any urgency for a referendum.
Later, the supervisors agreed to provide $1.5 million for architectural and engineering fees so planning can begin for the new school.
The planning funds will be included in a $10.1 million bond sale through the Virginia Public School Authority next spring.
The county can sell bonds through the authority without a referendum and has used the same financing mechanism for smaller projects.
The School Board and supervisors have not decided whether a referendum will be held - or when - to pay for the school. Planning and construction of a new school will take five or six years.
Thomas Leggette, a Windsor Hills candidate, said he's happy that the supervisors have provided the planning money, but a decision will have to be made on how the school will be financed.
"We need leadership on a new Cave Spring High School. We need someone who will press for more money," said Lisa Merrill, a candidate in the Windsor Hills district. She predicts that an elected board will be more aggressive in seeking funds.
Richard Cullinan, also a candidate in Windsor Hills, cited overcrowding at Cave Spring Junior High as a reason to build a new high school that could accommodate the ninth grade.
County officials have said that the real estate tax rate might have to be increased by 6 cents per $100 assessed valuation to finance a bond issue. But that won't be known until a decision is made on how to pay for the school.
Even if a bond referendum is held next year, school officials said the new school won't be ready for another four or five years.
Several candidates in the Windsor Hills district said they are pleased with the School Board's decision to back away from a proposal to realign the grades at Cave Spring and Hidden Valley junior high schools.
The decision has eased debate on the issue, but Merrill said it didn't solve the space problems in Southwest County. "We still have students being moved from place to place because there is no space," she said.
School officials had proposed the realignment to help ease overcrowding at Cave Spring Junior High School, take a step towards the middle school concept and ease the transition from ninth grade to high school.
Leggette said school officials could have avoided the controversy if they had consulted with parents when they began their study.
by CNB