Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503300097
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: C-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Not only did the presidents of the Montgomery County Education Association and the County Council of PTAs speak on behalf of raising taxes to pay for school programs, but so did more than 100 paper dolls, colored by children and inscribed by parents.
``I'm willing to pay higher taxes to support the current school budget,'' read one bright-yellow paper doll, decorated with curly brown hair and a purple dress.
``This doll represents ONE child. This ONE child will be directly affected by the county school budget. Keep this face in mind as you vote,'' was the message on another doll.
``If we want quality education we must give our teachers a quality salary,'' said a third.
``Please take the time to go and read the messages'' written on the dolls, Chris Vining, president of the Margaret Beeks Elementary School PTA, told the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday night. Vining and parent Linda Beal helped organize the paper doll campaign.
Ten of the 25 residents who spoke supported the full 5-cent real estate tax increase. All of them wanted the increase earmarked for education.
``I consider myself a fiscal conservative,'' said businessman Dan Neel. But ``Montgomery County schools are way behind in technology. ... I don't mind paying an additional $50 in taxes if it's going to education.''
School Board member Barry Worth chastised the supervisors for allowing ``county government [to grow] four times faster than schools.''
Montgomery County Education Association President B.J. Mullins asked the supervisors not to follow the state's ``downward trend in financing the public school system.'' He urged full funding of the School Board's proposed $49.3 million budget.
After the meeting, Vining, who stood by the paper doll display, said she was pleased with the parents' and children's efforts to sway the supervisors.
``It's awareness and it shows that people care,'' Vining said. ``At least we tried, and that's the key.''
Memo: ***CORRECTION***