THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511180437
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
HICKORY HIGH: Officials in charge of the construction of the new Hickory High School, off Route 168 in the southern part of the city, said Monday that the project is proceeding as planned.
The outlines of the building, giant steel beams, have sprouted from the bare fields. Roofs and walls are being erected on classroom wings.
The school is scheduled to be complete by Aug. 1 of next year. But early predictions had been that the building's auditorium would be about three weeks behind that schedule, due to weather and construction delays.
PUBLIC COMMENT: The School Board is considering guidelines for citizens who want to address the board.
Normally, the board allows time at the beginning of each meeting for citizens to comment. Traditionally, no time limits have been set.
The new guidelines would limit the public comment period to a half hour, with each citizen being allowed to speak for three minutes. Citizens representing groups would be given five minutes each.
Some board members expressed concern about the half-hour time limit, and whether it could prevent citizens from having an opportunity to comment on issues that attract a large number of speakers.
Board members, along with the board's clerk, will discuss ways to make sure the time limits do not shut out any citizens' comments.
Special public hearings would not be governed by the guidelines.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD by CNB