ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
ROANOKE COUNTY SUPERVISORS say estimates are too high for the new Cave Spring High School, and they want the School Board to reduce the price. Thursday night, the board said no.
A new Cave Spring High School in Roanoke County could be jeopardized because its estimated cost is $3.6 million more than what the Board of Supervisors is willing to provide for it.
Architects say the 1,900-student school that has been recommended by consultants and a citizens committee will cost $33.6 million.
But supervisors want the School Board to reduce the price to $30 million so an increase of only 2 cents will be required in the county's real estate tax rate to pay for it and several other school projects.
School Board members rejected the supervisors' request Thursday night and voted to request the full $33.6 million, which would require a 3-cent real estate tax increase.
School Board members said they are ready to pull the plug on the new school if the supervisors won't agree to the architects' estimate.
"I'm in no mood to wheel and deal," said School Board member Frank Thomas. "If we are going to build this school, we are going to do it right, or we can wait until the county can afford it."
Thomas said Moseley McClintock of Richmond, architects for the new school, is one of the most reputable firms in Virginia, and he doesn't believe that a quality school can be built for less money.
"I have no basis to disagree with the architects," said Thomas Leggette, a School Board member. "I'm not willing to change the estimate."
Construction on the new Northside High gymnasium apparently also will be delayed, because the additional funds needed for the project would be included in a bond referendum for the new Cave Spring High that may be held in March. Bids for the Northside project were about $2.5 million higher than the original allocation.
School Board members, who met last week with the supervisors to discuss funding for the new school and other projects, were angered late Thursday when County Administrator Elmer Hodge and the supervisors sent them a proposed agreement on a bond referendum for schools.
The agreement outlined several conditions for the projects and imposed a $35.65 million limit on the package of projects so the real estate tax increase would be only 2 cents. School Board members had been considering a $40 million list.
Among other requirements, the School Board would have to deed Cave Spring Junior High and stadium to the county when a new high school is built, use fly ash for fill at the site of the new high school to save costs and hold a bond referendum March5.
Hodge told the School Board he had conferred with the supervisors on the agreement and the $35.65 million cap on the projects. He said a majority of the supervisors were prepared to support the agreement and a bond referendum requiring a 2-cent tax increase.
"The supervisors told me to work within these parameters," he said. "If we don't move ahead on a new high school, we might not be able to do it for another 10 years."
Hodge said the agreement was not an ultimatum, but Leggette said it appeared to be. "We were told to put together a package of projects, and demands have been placed on us before we have done that."
"You talk about coming together, but it looks like you are asking for it to be one way - by the School Board," said Chairman Jerry Canada.
School Board members objected to several of the conditions, particularly the requirement to deed Cave Spring Junior High to the county. They said the property may be needed for a school site or other school needs if there is more growth in Southwest County.
School Board members said the March 5 referendum, required to avoid a conflict with a Vinton Town Council election in May, didn't give architects time to prepare plans of the new high school to show voters. But they reluctantly agreed to the date if the supervisors hold a referendum.
The School Board will recommend a $39.3 million package that includes: Cave Spring High, $33.6 million; Northside High gym project, $2.5 million; Glenvar Middle School, $1 million; technology equipment, $1 million; Mount Pleasant Elementary, $800,000; and bond issuance costs, $350,000.
County Finance Director Diane Hyatt said the package would require a $30.3 million bond referendum. The additional $9 million would come from state Literary Fund loans and funds that were borrowed earlier.
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