
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, December 13, 1994                   TAG: 9412130099
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

2 KEEP SEATS ON SALEM BOARD

For awhile Monday night, Councilman Sonny Tarpley wished Salem voters had approved a switch to an elected School Board. It would have eased the pressure on him and other City Council members.

Faced with a record 12 applicants for two School Board seats, the council decided to stick with continuity and experience.

It reappointed June Long and Gerald Pace, choosing them over a field of new applicants that Tarpley described as outstanding.

"This is the night that I wish we had an elected board," said Tarpley, as the audience laughed.

Last month, Salem became only the second locality in the state to reject an elected School Board.

City officials said the referendum apparently sparked interest in the board seats and caused many people to apply.

Councilman Gary Lautenschlager dissented on the reappointment of Long and Pace. He said the board should have geographic balance and should have members with children in school.

"I mean no disrespect for the incumbents, but I think there is a need for change," Lautenschlager said. "Having been on council for only five months, this has been a challenge for me."

The council's decision came after a 25-minute closed session.

The council also agreed Monday night to impose a three-term limit for School Board members to ensure turnover. Board members serve three-year terms.

Long, who chairs the board, has been a member since 1980; Pace has served since 1982. Long said she sought another term because she wants to oversee the renovation of G.W. Carver Elementary School.

Mayor James Taliaferro said Long and Pace have indicated they will not seek new terms in three years.

A third board member, Glenn Thornhill, has told council that he will not seek reappointment when his term expires in December 1995, Taliaferro said.

If council had replaced Long and Pace this year, Taliaferro said, a majority of the five-member board would have changed within a year. He said there is a need for continuity and experience on the board.

"It would be a shame not to reappoint" Long and Pace when all applicants for the board said Salem has a good school system, Councilman Alex Brown said. No applicant rated the school below a "B," and Brown said Long and Pace deserve part of the credit.

Councilman Howard Packett agreed that change is needed sometimes, and said the three-term limit will accomplish that. Faced with the replacement of Thornhill next year, Packett voted to keep Long and Pace for continuity and experience.

by CNB