ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996 TAG: 9603220074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell will vote for the Roanoke County school bond issue, even though he no longer has children in school and represents only a small part of Southwest County, where most of the money would be spent.
Cranwell said Thursday he is supporting the bonds because he views the county as one entity - not as separate communities.
Opposing the bond issue for territorial reasons would be like opposing state funds for mass transit in Northern Virginia because the Roanoke Valley doesn't have it, he said.
The Vinton Democrat said the bond issue will dovetail with the General Assembly's increased funding for educational technology and the state's goal of one computer for every five students.
The $37.4 million referendum April 2 includes $1 million for computers and educational technology at all county schools.
Cranwell said the state legislature during its recent session approved $101 million for educational technology for public schools in the next two years. Roanoke County will receive $789,400 next year and $700,000 in 1997-98.
"I think what we've done at the state level should set the tone for what we do at the local level," Cranwell said.
Cranwell and state Sen. John Edwards, a Roanoke Democrat who represents part of Roanoke County, endorsed the school bonds at a news conference by Citizens for Education, a residents' group that is promoting the referendum.
Edwards said education was the winner in the state budget. The legislature approved $100 million to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade in schools where a large percentage of children receive free or reduced-priced lunches, he said.
But the state doesn't help finance the construction of school buildings, and that's why the county needs to approve a bond issue to pay for a new high school, Edwards said.
Cranwell's House district includes parts of Glenvar, North County and East County where some voters have complained that too much of the money - $33.6 million - would be spent on a new Cave Spring High School in Southwest County.
Cranwell said he understands the concerns, but the county has spent funds for new schools and school improvements in other areas.
He noted that William Byrd Middle School, where the news conference was held, was built in the late 1980s.
"We've also spent money at Northside and Glenvar," Cranwell said. "It tends to all balance out."
Although most of the bond money would be used for a new Cave Spring High, School Board Chairman Jerry Canada said the school system has tried to deal with school needs equitably.
On school improvements in the past decade, he said, the county has spent: $13 million in East County; $9 million in North County; $8 million in Southwest County; and $7 million in West County.
Canada said the projects have included William Byrd and Glenvar middle schools; additions and renovations to William Byrd and Northside highs; and additions to Back Creek, Cave Spring, Glenvar, Green Valley and Mason's Cove elementary schools.
Terri Langford, co-chairwoman of Citizens for Education, said the bond issue will provide technology money for all parts of the county.
Have a question about the Roanoke County bond issue? Let us know so we can follow up. Write Joel Turner, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010.
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