ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 5, 1996 TAG: 9609050068
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
With one late Tuesday night vote by the Montgomery County School Board, the healing process between the Riner and Bethel communities slowly began. But it didn't come without a fight.
After a meeting behind closed doors ended just before midnight, a somber School Board voted 6-2, with one abstention, to make Jeff Perry principal of the new elementary school in Riner. The new school will combine Bethel and Riner elementary schools when finished in two years.
"A lot of people ... came up to me, congratulated me and said they were ready to get behind me," Perry said Wednesday. "That made me feel good not only personally but in a professional sense that they have the faith and confidence."
A committee of administrators, two teachers and a PTA president from both communities recommended Perry, now the principal at Bethel, to head the new school. The committee chose Perry over current Riner Elementary Principal Keith Rowland.
Since that recommendation was announced three weeks ago, parents from Riner vocally protested the decision, leading to a direct attack on the superintendent and a rift between the two school communities.
Rowland, who withdrew his application two weeks ago to try to quiet the conflict, said he was glad the School Board brought closure with its decision.
"It's time for the community to get behind Dr. Perry," Rowland said Wednesday. "He's going to have a tough job, and I'm willing to help him as much as I can and I hope others will too."
Some Riner parents criticized the selection process, saying Superintendent Herman Bartlett used a heavy hand in directing the choice. Riner Elementary PTA President Bill Aldridge, who served on the committee, said there should have been input from the community.
But Cindy Eller, the Bethel PTA president who also served on the committee, said she was impressed by the fair process.
"I came home and was elated at how fair the system was," she told the board Tuesday.
Vice Chairman Barry Worth, who represents the Riner area, said after talking with both principals in a closed-door session Tuesday, he believed the process was fair. Worth received a great deal of pressure from his constituents, particularly because his seat is up for re-election next year. After Tuesday night's decision, one Riner parent told Worth he "wouldn't be their representative much longer."
"I've said before that I'm not going to make a political decision that affects kids," Worth said Wednesday. "My task was to see that the process was handled fairly ... and once I was satisfied, my task was to follow the recommendation of the committee."
Board member Bernie Jortner and Chairwoman Annette Perkins voted against the recommendation; Mike Smith abstained.
Jortner said he saw some discrepancies in the process, but that wasn't the main reason for voting "no."
"The major factor was that the community spoke out and the message was pretty sound advice," Jortner said. "When I ran for office I said I was going to get more parents involved and certainly they were involved."
Aldridge said he was angry Worth didn't listen to Riner parents, but his main concern is making sure the board does not extend Bartlett's contract past this spring's concluding date.
"I would like to commend Bartlett openly for his progress with the building project, but that's where I draw the line," Aldridge said. "I have have no respect for this school system any more."
By the meeting's end Tuesday, Bartlett was openly arguing with one Riner parent. Criticism from both communities flew all evening, either under the breath or in front of the entire School Board.
Still, parents from both communities said they are ready to start planning for a new, unified school. Teachers will meet jointly beginning next month, and PTA members are planning to do the same.
Perry said he plans to combine the best programs and curricula from both schools. He said he looks forward to working with people from the Riner community, many of whom he first met several years ago while an assistant principal at Auburn High School.
Eller looks forward to the first group of kindergartners entering the new combined school without knowledge of a past split between Bethel and Riner.
"Hopefully with those kids this issue will be null and void - it will be considered one school."
LENGTH: Medium: 83 linesby CNB