ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 20, 1996 TAG: 9611200057
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Northside High senior Amy Naff believes Roanoke County voters might be ready to consider another school bond issue in about five years.
It would be a waste of time to schedule another referendum now, she said, because the emotions that were generated by last spring's $37.4 million referendum are still too strong.
"It wouldn't pass now," Naff said Tuesday.
But Cave Spring High seniors Josh Casker and Mike Bono favor another referendum soon because of the overcrowding and aged facilities at their school and at Cave Spring Junior High.
"It's really a shame that the referendum failed [in April]," Casker said. "The conditions at the high school and junior high are getting worse."
The three seniors were members of the Board of Supervisors during Tuesday's student government day in the county.
They reflected the division among county voters on the actual school referendum, indicating that the outcome might have been the same had students decided the issue.
The two other student supervisors, Julie Lau of William Byrd and Ingrid Moldenhauer of Glenvar, said they would be willing to consider another referendum if money is provided for the needs of all schools.
"There was too much for Cave Spring and not enough for other schools in the [April] referendum," Moldenhauer said.
"All schools should have their needs considered," Lau said.
Ninety percent of the money in last spring's referendum was earmarked for a new Cave Spring High, with smaller amounts for half a dozen other projects.
Voters approved the bond issue in the Cave Spring and Windsor Hills magisterial districts, which were represented by Casker and Bono, respectively, in the mock supervisors' meeting.
But it was rejected in the other three districts. Naff represented Hollins; Lau, Vinton; and Moldenhauer, Catawba.
A 22-member residents' committee is reviewing the needs of all county schools and will make a recommendation to the School Board and Board of Supervisors early next year.
The student supervisors received an update on the committee's study.
School officials have estimated that the cost for all projects could reach $120 million.
The supervisors will decide whether to have another referendum or to seek other funding sources for school improvements.
The student supervisors also were split on another school issue: year-round schooling.
Several said they favor the concept, provided students would get several breaks during the year.
"I think I'd favor it," said Naff. "It seems like a good idea."
"It would provide more breaks and relaxation periods," said Lau. "I think we need more breaks during the year."
But Bono said year-round schooling would make it difficult for students to make money to help pay for college.
"It would cut into summer jobs, and I'd rather have the time to work during the summer," Bono said.
Fifty-four seniors from the county's four high schools participated in the student government day. They were paired with county appointed and elected officials for the day to get a better understanding of how government works.
The student supervisors considered several other school issues during the mock meeting, but they rejected requests for $150,000 for a stoplight at Hidden Valley Junior High and $10,000 for a pilot program for block scheduling in high schools.
Hidden Valley is seeking a stoplight at Virginia 419 and Hidden Valley Road because nearby residents oppose opening Mount Holland Drive, a rear entrance to the school. There is a gate across Mount Holland. The residents don't want school traffic routed past their houses.
The school was built in the 1970s and is located in an area that was annexed to Roanoke in 1976. The annexation court allowed the county to keep the school.
School officials want to reopen Mount Holland Drive because they say the entrance to the school on Virginia 419 is hazardous, particularly after school dances and other nighttime activities.
VDOT has rejected requests for a stoplight at the intersection, saying there isn't enough traffic to justify a signal.
In addition, Roanoke County is studying block scheduling for high schools - longer classes that last up to 90 minutes to give teachers more time for in-depth instruction. Students would take fewer courses each semester.
Several school systems in Western Virginia, including Roanoke, have adopted the block schedule, but the county student panel rejected a request for money to train teachers for a pilot block program.
The student supervisors also recognized Robert Patterson, who is in his 32nd year as principal of William Byrd High, the longest tenure for a Virginia high school principal in recent history.
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: WAYNE DEEL/Staff. Roanoke County students act as membersby CNBof the Board of Supervisors and other county officials during
student government day Tuesday. Mayo Wilson (back to camera)
addresses board members (from left) Mike Bono, Josh Casker, Amy
Naff, Julie Lau and Ingrid Moldenhauer. color.