ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 11, 1997 TAG: 9702110111
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
Representatives of two Bedford County civic groups urged the county Board of Supervisors on Monday to meet an expected $13.5 million request for school construction bonds, but the supervisors gave no hint of how they'll vote.
The School Board said last week at a joint meeting with the supervisors that it probably will request $13.5 million in state literary fund loan money and Virginia Public School Authority bonds for two new elementary schools in the Staunton River and Forest areas. The county school system also announced plans for a $3.7 million renovation of Liberty High School to start in 1998.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote at its next meeting on whether to approve a $10 million literary fund loan and an additional $3.5 million in county debt through public school authority bonds.
"Approval of VPSA funding will be a statement to the citizens, industries, and prospective industries that Bedford County realizes the importance of investment in education," said Debby Allen, chairwoman of the Jefferson Forest District PTA Coalition.
Allen cited crowded classrooms in Forest and Staunton River. She also supported responsibility and accountability for how school construction funds are spent. Calling for stronger oversight on construction overruns, Allen advocated that money slated for a project should be spent on that project only.
Last year, the Board of Supervisors requested an audit of county construction funds when it became apparent that the school system was using construction money for other building projects than those for which it had been allocated. The practice is not illegal, and School Superintendent John Kent defended it as a way to compensate for construction overruns.
Doug Toler, a representative of the Liberty High School PTA Coalition, spoke about leaking roofs and the lack of air conditioning at the 30-year-old school. He called for construction money to improve the school and asked the supervisors to increase the amount the county spends per pupil.
In other business, Sheriff Mike Brown requested supplemental pay for his deputies. Unlike some counties, Bedford doesn't supplement deputies' wages, and it doesn't allocate money for extra deputies.
"Our deputies are well-trained, well-educated, and are required to perform the same duties as officers in some city police departments," Brown said. "But they have the lowest starting salary."
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