ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 12, 1996 TAG: 9603120093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Some residents in North Roanoke County are just as angry about the school bond referendum as those in Glenvar, because they think too much of the money would be spent on a new Cave Spring High School.
They complained Monday night that the $37.4 million bond issue would increase their taxes, even though the Board of Supervisors said no increase in the tax rate would be required in the next year.
The North County residents said their tax bills will be higher because of high assessments. They said they would be hit harder than Southwest County residents, who would get the new school.
The residents suggested that the heavier tax burden would make voters unlikely to approve future bond issues for other school improvements after Cave Spring gets a new high school.
About 200 people attended an informational meeting on the Cave Spring referendum at Northside High School. Most appeared to be opposed to the bond issue, loudly applauding speakers who said they will vote against it.
Some criticized school officials for a lack of planning for the proposed high school, saying they don't have not enough information to vote on the referendum.
Still others were upset that the Northside gym, auditorium and classroom project was scaled back because of the lack of money, while the county proposes to spend $33.6 million for the new Cave Spring High.
``Let's make sure that we don't sacrifice the interests of a large number of our students for one school,'' said Jane Milliron, mother of one Northside High student and another who graduated from it.
``There is no way to have a bond issue of this size without a tax increase,'' Milliron said. ``What happens if they need more than $33.6 million for the new school? We don't have any detailed plans or enough information about this school to vote on it.''
Randy Likens, a Northside graduate who has had three children attend the school, said school officials don't know if the proposed site for the new high school is suitable because part of it would be in a flood plain.
``This is absurd. You are trying to push it down our throats,'' Likens said.
But Marty Robison, executive assistant for county schools, said consultants' engineers have determined that the Merriman Road site could be used despite the potential for flooding.
Robison said school officials have provided more details about the proposed high school than is usually available for bond referendums. In most bond votes, localities present only a general concept of projects.
Architects and engineers usually are not hired for projects until after a referendum, he said, while the county already has them designing the proposed school.
Lela Spitz, mother of children who attended Northside, said money and equity are the issues in the April 2 referendum.
``Many people feel the new Cave Spring High is excessive. The money is not evenly divided,'' she said. ``If we pass this bond issue, school needs in other areas of the county will never be met.''
The referendum includes $2.8 million for completing the Northside project and $1 million for equipment for Glenvar Middle School, in addition to several smaller projects.
The Rev. George Pearson, minister of Southview United Methodist Church, made a plea for the bond referendum and urged North County residents to unite behind it. ``We have to bite the bullet now on schools,'' he said.
``On April 3, we will be a county moving forward in cooperation or a county divided against itself. The tone of the future will be set by what happens on April 2.''
Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Johnson and member Fuzzy Minnix echoed Pearson. ``If you want to divide this county, Roanoke city will pick you off like plucked chicken,'' Johnson said.
Said Minnix: ``The kids are too important to be used as pawns. The four horses in the four areas of the county are pulling in different directions.''
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