Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 23, 1994 TAG: 9411230108
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Architect Larry Martin told the board it likely would cost almost $3.5 million for projects at all four city schools, which would include a glass walkway linking Radford High School with adjacent Dalton Intermediate School.
Chairman Guy Gentry reflected the board's consensus of Martin's "very preliminary" designs. "It's a really good plan," he said, as board members perused Martin's conceptual drawings.
Also on the project list are library-media centers at Belle Heth and McHarg elementary schools; an art and music classroom at Belle Heth; computer classrooms at McHarg, Dalton and the high school; a classroom wing at Dalton; extensive renovations of the high school's east wing; office-care rooms for a school nurse at all four schools; and lunch rooms at both elementary schools. Money for a new arts and music wing for McHarg already is in this year's budget.
The project list includes space to accommodate seven class sections for the elementary grades, with a teacher-pupil ratio in the low 20s.
In addition, new computer equipment and improvements requested by the Technology Committee come to nearly $700,000.
The board now must set priorities on items to include in a bond issue for citywide capital improvements. City Council has been looking at borrowing approximately $6 million for various city projects and tentatively had earmarked $1 million of that for the schools.
Board member Chip Craig made clear what he would like to see included. "As far as I'm concerned, this is the priority," he said, tapping his finger atop a stack of Martin's sketches. Without the additions and improvements, Craig said, "we cannot maintain our standard of excellence here."
Superintendent Michael Wright has said that additional room at Belle Heth is "absolutely vital" as kindergarten enrollments once again are on the rise. Both elementary schools already house some classes in temporary structures.
The School Board and City Council will meet next month in "neutral territory" to review the school system's capital needs and establish a final figure for the bond issue.
In other action, the School Board:
Approved an agreement with the city to have the board take over day-to-day management of the city's transit system, which serves as the city's school bus system. The agreement goes into effect Jan. 1, pending City Council approval. Under the arrangement, the School Board will hire and train bus drivers and handle discipline problems.
Voted to ask City Council to reappropriate some $330,700 in funds not spent from the 1993-94 fiscal year budget. Wright said approximately $196,000 had been set aside for various projects, including the new music and art wing at the high school, that were not completed within the budget year. The board wants to apply the unspent funds plus nearly $26,800 in state technology money to the 1994-95 school budget.
Heard from Gary Nunn of the Band Boosters that music education "is not a frill or an extra" but essential. Nunn backed up remarks his wife, Pamela, made at an earlier board meeting in support of a $33,000 request for new instruments, additional personnel and expanded class offerings. Nunn said some students have been using instruments mended with tape.
Accepted several new tuition-paying students from outside the city, bringing the total to a record 161.
Heard a budget request from the Parent Resource Center for $7,780, the same as the current year's allocation.
by CNB