ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 27, 1997 TAG: 9702270019
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER, MARK CLOTHIER AND LESLIE HAGER-SMITH
* The Pulaski County School Board is going through its annual agony over what it needs and what it is required to have in its 1997-98 budget. "We feel that we do have to do textbooks," Business Manager Walt Shannon told the board at its budget session Tuesday. But overdue adoptions of textbooks in just science and social studies will cost an estimated $500,000. Replacing old textbooks will cost $54,000.
The state is including a 4 percent salary increase for teachers under its Standards of Learning requirements. But Pulaski County has more teachers than the standards require. Superintendent Bill Asbury said it is obvious that the county would not give the raise to some and not all of its teachers.
Other needs include adding two elementary principals, at a cost of $90,000; increasing the budget for technology by $200,000; buying two portable classrooms for $80,000; and adding five teaching positions for $175,000 to continue the system's emphasis on smaller classes and student mastery of subjects in the lower grades.
Board member Rhea Saltz said the board should propose a budget including all its educational needs to the Board of Supervisors. "We didn't ask for what we needed last year, and we got cut," he said.
* Blacksburg Town Council held a public hearing Tuesday night on the proposed transfer of the town's cable television franchise from Booth Communications of Virginia to Adelphia Communications Corp.
Adelphia Regional Manager Joe Price requested the hearing be continued so the Pennsylvania-based company can decide to which of it's Virginia-licensed subsidiaries the franchise would be transferred. The hearing was continued to March 25.
* Radford City Council on Monday held a public hearing on proposed Virginia Community Development Block Grant funding for revitalization of Radford's central business district. The city hopes to qualify for $70,000 in funds available to it in 1997.
The public hearing drew no speakers. It was designed to outline the funding process and to receive comments on past CDBG projects. The last was in 1991, when Radford was granted $375,000 to construct a shelter for the Women's Resource Center, a project which has since become a statewide model for such programs.
The next public hearing, at 7:30 p.m. March 10 at council chambers, will focus on specific proposals for improvements to parking and aesthetics in the downtown area. Those unable to attend may submit written remarks to: Director of Community Development David Ridpath, 619 Second Street, Radford, VA 24141.
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