Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411090115
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
no -5,006--59%
yes -3,550--41%
Salem voters decided Tuesday they would rather let City Council pick their school board members. Salem became only the second locality in Virginia to shoot down elected school boards.
The city's school system is only 11 years old - Salem broke with Roanoke County's system and began its own in 1983 - and voters seem to feel it works well.
"It's best to leave it like it is," Neoma Davis said as she headed out of the polls. "They've been doing all right like it is."
Davis, echoing other voters, said she voted against elected school boards because she was concerned they would cost more.
The referendum was placed on Salem's ballot this year by the local Virginia Referendum Association, which supports referendums in general and did not take a position on elected school boards beyond supporting Tuesday's vote. A group led by a former superintendent campaigned against elected boards.
Superintendent Wayne Tripp reported two weeks ago that an elected board could choose to stop sharing services with city hall, like financial, legal and maintenance departments. That could cost taxpayers around $800,000 a year.
Peggy Shenberger, handing out sample ballots for the Democratic Party, said she voted no because she worried about abuses. She's concerned that local school boards are becoming tools for the Christian Coalition and others with political agendas.
"I just don't want us to be used," she said. "I'm very happy with what's going on in our schools."
Some who voted in favor of elected boards said they weren't necessarily unhappy with the school system, but supported the principle of direct elections.
"I think we should have a say on who's on school board," said Kaye Bradley, handing out sample ballots for the Republican Party. "It will stop favoritism. Boards and things are 'at-a-boys' for people who've helped [politicians]. And it lends more accountability for parents."
Ben Porter, who was picketing outside a north Salem polling place with sandwich board signs back and front, said arguments against electing a school board are "insulting" to voters.
Porter said he's not familiar with current school board policies, but favors allowing voters to elect board members.
He pickets every Election Day on various issues "just to relieve frustration. It keeps me from throwing bottles through the TV screen."
His sign read "The corrupt elite thinks you're not smart enough to elect the school board. Tell them to shove it. Vote yes."
He said he wouldn't be surprised if it failed, though.
"People here think of themselves as polite people," he said. "Any disagreement is a terrible thing."
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.