ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 3, 1996 TAG: 9604030062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
note: lede
Voter discontent over taxes and the geographic distribution of bond money for schools Tuesday derailed the plan for a new Cave Spring High School in Roanoke County.
Voters rejected a $37.4 million school bond issue 9,334-7,094 in a referendum that split the county sharply along territorial lines. The margin of defeat was 57 percent to 43 percent.
In the Catawba, Hollins and Vinton magisterial districts where voters had complained angrily that too much of the money was being spent on the new Cave Spring school, the bonds were defeated by a margin of 4-1.
Southwest County voters approved the referendum 5,363-2,944, or 65 percent to 35 percent, but the margin in the Cave Spring and Windsor Hills districts was not enough to offset the crushing defeat in the other areas.
The results in the rest of the county were lopsided. In the Catawba district, where parents complained that Glenvar did not get a separate middle school, the bonds were defeated 2,552-408.
In Hollins, voters rejected the bond referendum 2,230-574. In Vinton, it was 1,431-517.
Bond supporters and school officials had worried the referendum would leave the county split. And the results showed even deeper divisions than some bond advocates had feared.
Only 35 percent of the county's registered voters went to the polls in the special election.
Exit interviews at the polls showed that many voters opposed the bonds because they were upset about rising real estate assessments and considered the share of the money to be spent in Cave Spring disproportionate to that for the rest of the county. The bond issue included $33.6million for the new high school and smaller amounts for several projects in other areas.
Voters also complained about the Board of Supervisors and the county's spending policies in recent years.
Other voters said they thought the proposed high school was too expensive, and they had concerns about the proposed site because it was in a flood plain.
Don Terp, leader of a group that opposed the referendum, said Tuesday night the margin of defeat was larger than he anticipated, although he expected it to be defeated.
Terp said voters were concerned about the county's rising debt and cost of government.
"This was not a defeat for education. It was the defeat of a building. We have got to concentrate more on computers and technology in education, not buildings," Terp said. "This was a sane victory for education."
The bond issue included $1 million for computers and technology for all schools.
School officials were disappointed by the outcome. School Board Chairman Jerry Canada said he thinks the bond issue was derailed by several factors, including voter anger over taxes, real estate assessments and water bills.
Canada said the board won't pursue the idea of a new Cave Spring High. Now it must try to address the crowding at Cave Spring Junior and Cave Spring High in other ways. He said the board will "let the dust settle and the emotions subside" and then try to work with the Board of Supervisors on the problems.
Canada said the board also will have to ask the supervisors for $2.8 million to complete the Northside High gym and may ask for money to buy new equipment for Glenvar Middle School. Funds for both projects were included in the bond issue.
Superintendent Deanna Gordon said she hopes the defeat of the referendum doesn't hurt the county's reputation as a place that values education. "We can't pretend that school facilities don't matter. The needs are still there," she said.
Terri Langford, co-chairwoman of a group that promoted the bond issue, said the "children were the big losers" in the defeat of the referendum. "I want to challenge the citizens to step forward and fight for what we believe is right."
Bruce Parker voted at the Northside High precinct against the bonds because of taxes.
"I think taxes are getting too high in the county. I moved here [recently] from Fairfax County. Roanoke County is getting like another Fairfax County," Parker said.
At the Burlington precinct in the northern part of the county, retiree James McGlothlin said he voted no.
"Taxes just keep going up and they didn't show any foresight in planning for the new high school," McGlothlin said. "If they had planned better, they would have a decent site."
At Northside High, Ruby Davis voted against the bonds because of the tax issue, too. "I'm paying enough taxes and I think they could get by with something less expensive."
Carlton Price, another Northside voter, said the county's real estate assessments and water bills keep increasing. "I think Roanoke County is going overboard with taxes," he said.
At the Burlington School, the Rev. Calvin Fulton said the county should do more busing to spread students among schools with space. "If they would do a better job of distributing the children among the buildings they have, they wouldn't need a new school."
Some parents voted against the bonds because they felt schools in their communities have been shortchanged.
"I've got three kids here [at Glenvar]. But we pay for [Cave Spring]. I guess if I lived in that area, I would want a new school," said Becky Cundiff, a Glenvar resident who voted no.
"My son graduated from William Fleming [High]. Our grandchildren live [in the city]. We're both retired. How's it going to benefit us?" said Helen Price, a Northside voter who also opposed the bonds.
The construction of a 1,900-student school would have enabled ninth-graders to attend Cave Spring High. The plan would have converted the existing high school to a middle school to house students now at Cave Spring Junior, which would be closed.
Southwest County residents believed it was their turn to get a middle school and other improvements that have been approved previously for other areas of the county.
At the Penn Forest precinct, A. N. Baker said his children have graduated from Cave Spring High, but he still voted for the bonds because the school has long been overcrowded. Penn Forest voters cast their ballots at Cave Spring High.
"It's not a case of one area against another. I would vote for the school if it was needed in any area in the county," Baker said.
Nora Key, another Penn Forest voter, said she voted for the bonds because the plan included money for technology at all schools in addition to the new high school.
"I think the schools need to keep up with technology. The bond issue includes money for technology in all schools," said Key, mother of one child in elementary school and another preparing to enter school.
In Vinton, J.R. Jones voted for the bonds because he thought it was Cave Spring's turn to get a new school.
Jones said he remembers when William Byrd High School was built. "I felt like that was our time, and it's their time now. "
LENGTH: Long : 133 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: 1. chart - Roanoke County School Bonds. colorby CNB2. Voice of the voters. compiled by S. D. Harrington. 4 color
headshots by ROGER HART STAFF
3. chart - School Bond Issue - precinct totals.
4. Voice of the voters. compiled by S. D. Harrington. 4 headshots by
ROGER HART STAFF