ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9605010031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
As the dozen audience members filed out of the city School Board candidate forum last week, one current member shook his head.
"I'm very disappointed at this turnout," said board member Guy Wolford, who will have his first chance to run for election in 1998. "The citizens voted overwhelmingly to go to elected school boards, and no one is here."
In 1994, Radford voters approved by a wide margin the switch from a board appointed by the City Council to an elected School Board.
One candidate, former School Board member Carter Effler, said he wasn't surprised by the turnout.
"You always like to think that people are involved in their city," he said later, "but it just doesn't seem to happen as often" in recent years.
Inside today's New River Current, we profile the three candidates for the two open seats.
The low interest in the forum was not caused by lack of name recognition. All three candidates have been involved in one way or another with the School Board.
Effler was appointed to two, three-year terms on the board before the City Council chose Spencer Hall last year. Effler later ran unsuccessfully for clerk of court.
Chris Harrison also tried for a seat on the School Board during last year's appointments.
Roberta Nester received publicity last year over a dispute with the School Board about what kind of special education classes would be best for her eldest son.
David Nester had been switched from a learning-disabled classroom to an emotionally disturbed room, and his parents felt his academic progress was declining because of it.
Roberta Nester and her husband, Terry, took the matter to a due-process hearing, but later sent David to The Achievement Center in Roanoke.
Nester said that incident prompted her to think about running for a seat on the board. Though the grievance process works, Nester says, she thinks communication would improve even more if there were a task force of parents, teachers and administrators.
The Radford Education Association's Political Action Committee endorsed Harrison and Effler. Nester chose not to return the group's questionnaire, saying she didn't see the need to involve politics in a School Board race.
Though the candidates' agendas may differ, at least one question at last week's forum brought unanimous agreement.
"Would you be willing to be on call during snow days?" asked Superintendent Michael Wright, tongue firmly planted in cheek.
"I can answer that," said Harrison as the other two candidates shook their heads. "I know you get up a 3 a.m. - I won't do it!"
The two candidates running unopposed for seats on City Council spoke briefly at the end of the forum.
Incumbent David Worrell reiterated his desire to see renovations on the city's water plant completed, as well as finding new facilities for the department of parks and recreation.
Newcomer Annyce Levy, a nurse at Pulaski County High School, said she would like to see economic development worked on in the future.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by staff: Voter turnout. color. KEYWORDS: POLITICS SCHOOL BOARDby CNB