Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510270027
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The board is losing its only member who works in finance and insurance, Maurice "Buck" Mitchell, who has represented the Cave Spring District for six years.
"I am told that a financial and insurance background can be helpful on the board," Irvin said. "I think I can help in that area."
Irvin, assistant agency manager for the Equitable Life Assurance Society and a former banker, wants to replace Mitchell, who chose not to run this year.
Irvin said he also wants to help improve the tradition of excellent schools in the county.
"I want to improve on what we have. I don't have a burning issue that I'm running on," he said.
Irvin, 45, said he's interested in schools because he has two school-age children, a son at Hidden Valley Junior High and a daughter at Green Valley Elementary School.
Irvin has long been a volunteer in school activities and has served on several school committees in recent years, including the six-year plan for county schools. He was an applicant for the board when Mitchell was reappointed two years ago.
Irvin has been endorsed by the Political Action Committee of the Roanoke County Education Association, a teachers' organization. The group said Irvin has shown strong support for education and that his campaign is gaining momentum.
He is running in a three-way contest with Carol White and Vern Jordahl.
Irvin said he had no complaint with the appointed board members and he voted against the change to an elected system.
But he decided to run because he wanted to be on the board, even though he doesn't consider himself a politician.
Irvin said the condition of the buildings and overcrowding at Cave Spring Junior High and Cave Spring High are major concerns of parents and voters.
Parents are upset that the Board of Supervisors refused to approve $2.5 million for air conditioning and other improvements at Cave Spring Junior, he said. The supervisors said they would not approve the project until consultants make a recommendation on whether the school should be closed or renovated.
But Irvin thinks the school should be air-conditioned now because it will have to be used for several years even if it is closed when a new high school is built in southwest county.
"It will take a number of years to build a new school and to make the other changes. Cave Spring Junior will be used in the meantime," he said.
Irvin would also like to see the attendance lines between Cave Spring and Hidden Valley junior highs redrawn to help ease overcrowding at Cave Spring.
Hidden Valley has space to accommodate additional students that could be shifted from Cave Spring if attendance lines were shifted, he said.
Irvin said he doesn't have a strong opinion on whether the county should build one big high school to replace the overcrowded Cave Spring High or establish two smaller high schools.
He thinks the county will construct one large high school because one school would be cheaper to operate and could offer more courses.
"With two smaller schools, you probably couldn't have the same curriculum as in a large school," he said.
Irvin said there are also a limited number of school sites in southwest county.
"But I am not wedded to either position. I have heard good arguments both ways," he said.
Irvin said that the needed school improvements in southwest county will probably require a bond issue. He said that it might be a good idea for the school system to do a study of school needs in all parts of the county, similar to the southwest study, and develop a bond issue that would include projects in all areas.
"If the bond issue would benefit the whole county, it would likely pass," he said.
Apart from the recent decision on the Cave Spring Junior High project, Irvin thinks that the Board of Supervisors has been generally supportive of schools. But he believes that the state should provide more funds for education.
"Education drives the future of the state economically, socially, culturally and in other ways," he said.
"Funding for education should be a top priority, but seems to have lost out to entitlement programs."
Roanoke County schools have experienced fewer discipline problems in recent years than some nearby localities because most county parents take an interest in their children's behavior, he said.
WILLIAM IRVIN
Age: 45.
Hometown: Roanoke.
Education: East Tennessee State University, bachelor's degree in business management.
Professional: Assistant agency manager for the Equitable Life Assurance Society; formerly worked for First Virginia Bank and Investors Savings Bank.
Family: Married; two children.
Quote: "All other areas of the county have middle schools. They have had schools built since anything was built in Southwest County. The folks in Southwest County have been tolerant. Now it is our turn."
Keywords:
POLITICS PROFILE
Memo: ***CORRECTION***