ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 15, 1996 TAG: 9611150026
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
While a contingent representing Blacksburg Middle School parents urged the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday to back down and let the School Board replace the school as it sees fit, a Shawsville delegation loudly roared back: "Don't forget about us, either."
Freeman Nester, a junior at Shawsville High School, summed up Shawsville's message after teachers and parents outlined complaints about the school there, built in the 1930s. The school houses grades six through 12.
"It's Shawsville's turn for a new facility. Blacksburg can wait," Nester said.
Blacksburg Middle School PTA board members had urged parents to turn out at Wednesday's meeting to show support for moving forward with a plan for a new middle school.
The supervisors and the School Board have been at an impasse for months over how to deal with the need for a new middle school in Blacksburg. The School Board voted at least twice to build a new school on a new site. The supervisors, who control the county purse strings, have indicated they would only support renovation of the current school.
After several joint meetings between the two boards, the supervisors' position remained the same. Last week, the School Board rescinded its vote for a new school on a new site. It is unclear whether the School Board will vote for renovating the middle school or building a new middle school on the current site.
Renovation has created a further snag in discussions, as some parents and members of both boards are against having children attend a school while it is undergoing renovation. Supervisor Mary Biggs said more than 540 people have signed a petition that opposes having students in the school while it's being renovated.
Nadine Newcomb compared the impasse over school construction to a time bomb.
"There it lies on the sidewalk and it could explode in your face," she said. "I think what you did was predictable: nothing."
She chided the supervisors, saying that board and the School Board should "work together and stop bickering."
Jerry Reinholtz, president of the Blacksburg Middle School PTA, said she left the September joint meeting between the boards "frustrated and angry" when supervisors made it clear it was renovation or nothing for the middle school.
"Our School Board has made that decision [to build a new school] at least twice. It is time we allow them to" proceed, she said.
Sharon Troy reminded the supervisors that Blacksburg Middle School does not serve only "the ivory-towered children."
If the two boards could work together, "this can be a catalyst for good," she said.
"Please do your job and allow the School Board to do theirs."
But several speakers from Shawsville High and Middle School wanted the supervisors to remember them too. A new Shawsville high school is one of three school building projects the School Board and the county want to be able to fund in the next several years.
Craig Hixon, a teacher at the school, told the supervisors a new high school to serve the Shawsville area should stay at the top of the construction list. The present school is over capacity, makes use of mobile classrooms and has teachers with no classrooms to call home. Hixon also spoke of the "social and practical implications" of housing students that range in age from 10 years old to 19 or 20 on one campus.
Eastern Montgomery County has waited patiently as school building projects in other parts of the county have been completed or scheduled. Hixon said it is now Shawsville's turn.
Denise Altizer, a vocational teacher at the school, said "learning is being limited and hampered. Shawsville's busting at the seams and we need your help."
Bonnie Smith, a Shawsville parent and teacher spoke of major conflicts when middle school, junior varsity and varsity sports teams are all fighting for practice or game space in the gym.
Supervisors did not react to the comments after public address.
Later in the meeting, Chairman Henry Jablonski said while the School Board does have the responsibility to look for the best way to meet school needs, it "doesn't relieve this board's responsibility to see that monies are spent in the best manner. It's a joint responsibility. We're not being relieved of our role just because they've made a recommendation."
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