ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 7, 1996 TAG: 9611070030
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
The Montgomery County School Board took a baby step in deciding what to do with the overcrowded, hotly disputed Blacksburg Middle School on Tuesday.
In a late-night, rambling discussion that included at least three different motions, the board voted 5 to 3 to rescind its plan to build a new school on a new site. Member David Moore was absent.
With about a dozen trailers set up as classrooms, no one has denied the need for increased space at Blacksburg Middle. Where to put it - outside of town using a large amount of acreage or in the center of town with limited land - has been debated in the community for more than a year.
During that time, the School Board has, for the most part, stuck to its original decision to move the school to a new site.
But two months ago, the Board of Supervisors voted in support of the present downtown Blacksburg site. That left the School Board stuck because the supervisors hold the purse strings on this and three other school building projects.
Tuesday, as many members acknowledged the need to make some kind of decision, Vice Chairman Barry Worth took the step.
"At least we ain't going to be on square X anymore," he said as he moved to rescind the board's original school building plan.
Chairwoman Annette Perkins, who voted against the move along with Blacksburg-area members Jim Klagge and Roy Vickers, said she wanted to hear more community input or wait at least until the supervisors took some additional action.
Some supervisors have implied the only option they would support would be renovating the present building, a move many teachers and parents don't want to see happen.
"Where I draw the line is renovating that school with kids in it," said School Board member Wat Hopkins, also a Blacksburg-area representative.
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