Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 18, 1995 TAG: 9510180055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The plans for the school could be finished in one year and construction could take up to two years, said William DeJong, a consultant for a feasibility study on school needs in Southwest County.
The School Board appears set to approve a plan that calls for the construction of one big school rather than two smaller schools to replace crowded Cave Spring High.
``I think a majority of the parents are willing to support the proposal for one school,'' said Thomas Leggette, board member from the Windsor Hills District.
``While some parents might still favor two schools, they were pleased to hear that one large school could be broken up into smaller units,'' he said.
Leggette said some parents, including his wife, have become converts to the one-school option.
Maurice ``Buck'' Mitchell, board member from the Cave Spring District, said there seems to be a general feeling in the community that one school is the best choice. ``The consensus seems to be that this would be the most economical way to go,'' Mitchell said.
At a meeting of about 300 Southwest County residents last week, 56 percent rated the one-school proposal as their top choice. They said one school would provide more course offerings, prepare students better for college, and keep the community and students united.
Board members met Tuesday with the consultants to discuss their findings and options for meeting elementary, middle and high school needs in Southwest County.
The consultants and a citizens' steering committee for the study will make their recommendations to the board next week.
A large new high school would be more expensive to build than two schools, but it would cost $1.7 million a year less to operate, said DeJong, president of DeJong & Associates, a consulting firm in Dublin, Ohio.
The estimated cost is $33.6 million - $26.5 million for construction and $7.1 million for furnishings, furniture, equipment, technology and other items.
The Board of Supervisors will make the funding decision on the proposed school. The supervisors could hold a referendum on a bond issue or sell bonds through the Virginia Public School Authority without a referendum.
The interest rates would be lower if a bond issue were approved by voters.
``It will be up to the supervisors to decide which way to go on the funding,'' Mitchell said.
The steering committee won't make a recommendation on the funding, said Martha Cobble, principal of Cave Spring High. ``We know that this has to go through the political process, and we did not feel that we should make a recommendation on this,'' said Cobble, who heads the committee.
The new school would be built along Merriman Road near Penn Forest Elementary School. Some county residents have questioned whether the site is suitable, noting that part of it is in a flood plain.
Consultant Jim Copeland said extensive research and tests have been conducted on the site and that all potential problems can be overcome. The building might have to be placed on pilings, but the land can be used, said Copeland, of Moseley McClintock Group, a Richmond firm.
Board member Frank Thomas said school officials knew that additional site work would be needed when they bought the land, but only a limited number of sites were available. The cost will be cheaper in the long run than buying a high-priced site at $30,000 an acre, he said.
Despite some parents' concern about the size of the proposed school, DeJong said it is not large by national standards. Some high schools in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas have 4,000 to 5,000 students, he said. Nationally, high schools in most suburban counties range up to 2,500 students, he said.
Under the proposal for a new 1,900-student high school, both Cave Spring High and Hidden Valley Junior High would be converted to 750-student middle schools.
Cave Spring Junior High no longer would be used as a junior high or middle school, but several alternative uses have been suggested. None has been rated highly by Southwest County residents.
by CNB