ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 23, 1996 TAG: 9611250138
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Chip Craig, the Radford School Board chairman, isn't known for being reticent.
The veteran board member has found himself on the hot seat many times during his seven years on the board, speaking out on issues ranging from a teacher dress code to moving the football team to the smaller single-A division.
So when he ran for president of the Virginia School Board Association earlier this year, he thought he would be too controversial to be elected. He won anyway.
For the next three years, Craig will lead the private, not-for-profit organization that provides training for board members across the state and lobbies on their behalf with the General Assembly.
Craig serves as the clerk of court for the Western District of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Roanoke. With his law background, Craig has developed an extensive knowledge of public school regulations.
He plans to put that knowledge to work, lobbying legislators on a number of issues. First on his list, he said this week, will be school construction and renovation.
"I've been to schools around this state that were built in 1890," he said, "and I saw one school that had 29 [mobile classroom] trailers."
The last time the General Assembly assisted school systems with facility improvements was 40 years ago, Craig said, and it was about time it helped again.
The issue affects most school systems in the state, including Radford. The City Council recently allocated $9.5 million to add rooms to two elementary schools and the intermediate school, an effort Craig called "Herculean." He estimated it would take $2 billion just to bring statewide schools up to building-code standards.
Craig said he plans to join forces with the state Education Association and PTA presidents to lobby for financial assistance.
"We want to present a more unified front to the General Assembly," he said. "About 95 percent of our goals are the same."
Although Radford voters approved an elected school board for the city, Craig has opposed electing board members. He worries about controversial, one-issue candidates who may change the state board's focus. He said he knew of several "good, qualified" people who opted not to run for school board because they wanted to avoid campaigning.
On the other hand, he said, the state board has received more calls and inquires from new members than ever before, which indicates active dedication.
As the father of two small children, Craig takes his duties seriously. Calling his school board involvement "the most important job" of his life, he won't apologize for being outspoken when it comes to education. And, he says he's not the only one to place Radford City schools in the spotlight.
"This board has had a long history of speaking their mind when it comes to state issues," he said. "I was fortunate enough to step onto one of the most active boards in the state."
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Craig KEYWORDS: 2DAby CNB