Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411100027
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Kimberly N. Martin
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Yes -7,552--59%
No -5,194--41%
Leonard Gereau's worst fears were laid to rest last night when Franklin County voters approved the school board's plan to improve its schools.
The $14.7 million package Franklin County Schools superintendent Gereau rallied for will provided funds to create a technology magnet school, to upgrade the technology in county schools, to add 23 classrooms to the county's elementary schools and to build a new outdoor track and maintenance building.
Although voters said they weren't eager to increase their real estate taxes by the anticipated two to four cents per $100 valuation, their ballots said they were willing to do so for the schools.
"All of the elementary schools need the improvements they're asking for...It's a possibility that taxes will have to be raised, but Franklin County's taxes are the lowest around, but even if they went up it still wouldn't be that much," said Robyn Sledd of Boones Mill.
The first phase of construction is scheduled to begin next year with the technology upgrades, planning for the technology school and construction at the elementary schools.
by CNB