Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 12, 1995 TAG: 9510120034
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Many Cave Spring High students like the proposal for a new 1,900-student school because they say it would keep the students and community together.
And they think a larger school would offer more courses and prepare them better for college.
Many don't like the idea of splitting Cave Spring into two smaller schools. "One new school would keep everybody together," said Jenny Fetherolf, a Cave Spring junior.
"If you split it into two schools, you would split up friendships, neighborhoods and car pools."
Susanne Bell believes that a large comprehensive high school would offer better educational opportunities for students. And it would be cheaper to operate than two schools, she said.
Sophomore Lindsay Cannon said Wednesday that she and most of her friends favor the proposal for one school because they want to keep the feeling of community and unity in Southwest County.
"If you have two schools, you separate people and divide them," Cannon said.
Robert Clark, a senior, said a large school would offer more courses and have a better athletic program, in addition to saving money for the county in the long run.
"There would be more choices, more programs," said senior Wes Cole.
Cave Spring High students are following the discussions on the long-range school plans for Southwest County. But some are not familiar with the details of the five options that were proposed by consultants earlier this week for middle and high schools.
Senior Robert Young said he had not heard of the proposal for a "high school of choice," a 500-student school for academics and the arts that would be a second high school.
But Young favors one large school because he said it would offer the opportunity to interact with more people. It would also enable Cave Spring to remain a AAA school in athletics and compete with Patrick Henry, William Fleming and other large high schools in the region, he said.
He doesn't like the option calling for Hidden Valley Junior High School to be converted into a high school; he said Hidden Valley is too small for that.
Four options call for two high schools, with differing combinations of new and renovated buildings.
Regardless of the decision, Young said Cave Spring High needs major renovations or should be replaced.
"This school is falling apart. When it rains, it leaks everywhere," he said. "We definitely need something done about this school."
Cave Spring High has about 1,220 students in grades 10 through 12. With ninth-graders, who now go to Cave Spring and Hidden Valley junior highs, Cave Spring High would have about 1,620 students. It would be close to the size of Patrick Henry and William Fleming high schools in Roanoke.
Consultants estimate that in 10 years there will be 1,915 students in grades nine through 12 in Southwest County.
Jenny Lemker, a 10th-grader, said she favors one school because it would have a better athletic program. She has attended Jefferson Forest, a AA school in Bedford County, but she likes Cave Spring better.
Mariusz Koper, a junior, believes the county should factor finances in the decision. He said it would be too expensive to operate two schools.
A 1,900-student school would be more expensive to build, but it would cost $1.7 million a year less to operate than two schools, said William DeJong, a consultant for the study.
Consultants estimate it would cost $36.8 million to build a new school and convert Cave Spring High into a middle school. They say it would cost up to $33.4 million to establish two high schools and make middle school improvements, depending on whether a new school is built or Hidden Valley Junior High is converted into a high school.
The one-school proposal received higher rankings at a community meeting earlier this week of Southwest County residents who were asked to state their preference.
Not all students think one big school is a good idea.
"If you had two smaller schools, you could have smaller classes and we could get taught better," said junior Cody Blankenship. "Teachers could give you more attention."
Sophomore Justin Cox said he sees advantages in both the one-school and two-school options.
"With one school, everyone could be with all of their friends," Cox said. "With two schools, you could get more attention by teachers."
Michael Kolejka said many students would have less travel time if there were two schools.
"Some people have a long trip to get here. It would be easier access if you had two schools," said Kolejka, a junior.
"They need to do something to relieve the conditions we have here," he said.
Jack Lebregon, a French exchange student at Cave Spring this year, agreed.
"It's really crowded here," Lebregon said. His school in France has about 1,000 students, he said, but is larger than Cave Spring.
Some students said they just want a larger school with more space. They said that the halls are crowded, the cafeteria is too small, and some rooms are too cramped.
Said Amanda Farnham, a 10th-grader: "It doesn't matter to me whether there are one or two schools - just as long as we have one that is bigger."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***