ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 19, 1997 TAG: 9702190115
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
Despite pleas and guarantees from the Bedford County School Board, the Board of Supervisors remained steadfast Tuesday, turning down a request for $3.5 million in bonds to help build two new elementary schools.
"It's very disappointing. I thought we had addressed all the concerns the Board of Supervisors had," said School Board Chairman Stan Butler of the 4-3 vote. "The bad thing is the kids are the ones who are going to suffer from this."
The School Board had asked for the $3.5 million in Virginia Public School Authority bonds to purchase land and architectural plans for two elementary schools it proposed building in the Forest and Staunton River areas.
Last week, several supervisors condemned the School Board for its past practice of borrowing money for one construction project and spending it on another. The supervisors voted 4-3 then to recommend that instead of asking for money for the new elementary schools, the School Board should request funds to finish additions at Stewartsville and Moneta elementary schools.
The School Board passed a resolution at its last meeting providing for stricter accountability for bond money, including presenting monthly balance sheets on school construction to the Board of Supervisors, meeting with the supervisors monthly and starting a capital improvement fund for emergency repairs.
The School Board spent some money previously borrowed for additions at Stewartsville and Moneta on repairs at other schools. However, it now says that it makes less sense to add on to Stewartsville and Moneta than it does to build a new school.
Superintendent John Kent told the Board of Supervisors at a budget work session Tuesday night that the county school system is already crowded and adding on to existing schools isn't an effective method of keeping up with the growing school population.
The county's 21 schools currently house 10,354 students - 154 more than capacity.
Supervisor Dale Wheeler, who voted against the bonds, summed up the feeling of the majority of supervisors, saying, "My problem, period, is I cannot follow the bouncing red ball. I can take days, months, years, and I can't tell you how much money [the schools] have or where it went or what it's for. That's completely infuriating when you go to the grocery store and people ask you what's going on. That's got to stop."
Supervisors Bob Bashore, Lucille Boggess and Tony Ware voted for the bonds.
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