THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 15, 1996 TAG: 9603140109
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Denise Watson
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Here's a look at some of the action taken at Monday's School Board meeting: And the name is...
In a 5-to-4 vote, the School Board elected to name the new school on Cedar Road ``Cedar Road Elementary School.''
The narrow vote came after a series of public hearings in which droves of citizens spoke in support of the Cedar Road name while several civic groups packed meetings, urging the board to name the school after two African-American activists, W.P. Clarke Sr., who served on the City Council in the 1970s, and Hugo Owens, a former council member and vice mayor.
Board member Larry Brayboy, who voted in favor of the Cedar Road name, later suggested the possibility of naming the school's media center after the two men.
Others voting for the Cedar Road name were Mary Korving, Maury Brickhouse, L. Thomas Bray and Barbara Head. Those opposed were James Wheaton, Jeffrey Rowland, James Reeves and Roderic Taylor. Hickory High update
Because of inclement weather during the past two months, construction of Hickory High School is approximately four weeks behind schedule, but the educational wings should be operational for September classes.
Bill Deal, one of the architects of the project, said he was ``cautiously optimistic'' that the gymnasium and educational and administrative wings would be completed by September. Deal said the contractors of the project would make-up lost time by hiring extra crews to work over the next few months.
The auditorium, however, might not be finished until the first week of December.
Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols added, ``Few facilities are completed before school opening.''
Nichols, as well as Deal, assured the board that measures would be taken to ensure the safety of students and faculty while construction is completed. Renovation dealyed
Work on the Truitt building has also fallen behind as work crews have uncovered small pockets of asbestos in the building.
Whenever the hazardous material is found, contractors have to stop working, have the asbestos removed and complete air sample tests before resuming work.
School officials had hoped the renovations would be completed by Aug. 31 in order to relocate Norfolk Highlands Primary School students and staff while the Highlands building undergoes renovations. Contractors hope to complete the work on Truitt by November, allowing the faculty of Norfolk Highlands Primary School to move during the Christmas holidays and begin classes at Truitt in January. Budget meeting
The board will take action on the superintendent's proposed budget during a special meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOLS CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD by CNB