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Home My WebLink About3/17/1997 - Special March 17, 1997 1ß - Roanoke County Administration Center 5204 Bernard Drive Roanoke, Virginia 24018 March 17, 1997 The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, met this day at the Roanoke County Brambleton Center, 3738 Brambleton Avenue, S. W., this being an adjourned meeting from March 11, 1997 and a joint meeting with the Roanoke County School Board and the Blue Ribbon Committee. IN RE: CALL TO ORDER Chairman Johnson called the Board of Supervisors to order and School Board Chairman Michael Stovall called the School Board to order at 7:03 p.m. The roll call was taken for the Board of Supervisors and School Board. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Bob L. Johnson, Vice Chairman Harry C. Nickens, Supervisors Lee B. Eddy, Fenton F. "Spike" Harrison, H. Odell "Fuzzy" Minnix MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Roanoke School Board members Jerry Canada, Marion G. Roark, William A. Irvin III, Tom Leggette, and Michael Stovall; Blue Ribbon Committee members Becky Walter, Marylee Davis, David Semones, Bonnie Jones, Donna Vittur, Joseph Byrd, Michael Ray, Robert Kaplan, Jane Milliron, Terriann May, AI Thomason, N. Wayne Newman, King Harvey, Barbara Buckley, Mary Nasca, Michael Quinn, Bill Adkins, AI Hardy, Doug Chittum, John Lyden, Jeff White, 164 March 17, 1997 = - Pattie McKinney; Ron Martin, Martin and Associates INRE: OPENING REMARKS Blue Ribbon Committee Chair AI Thomason introduced the members of the Board of Supervisors and School Board and turned the meeting over to Ron Martin, with Martin and Associates who had worked with the Blue Ribbon Commission in preparing the feasibility study. INRE: DISCUSSION Mr. Martin explained that there were two major components: the comprehensive facilities study and review and recommendations from the study by the Blue Ribbon Committee. He introduced the members of the Blue Ribbon Committee and advised that the committee had 22 members appointed by the Board of Supervisors and School Board, and was created to look at all future school capital needs fOllowing the school bond referendum defeat in 1996. The Blue Ribbon Committee established their mission as follows: (1) conduct a thorough review of physical structures of Roanoke County Schools; (2) identify immediate and future capital and non-capital needs; (3) prioritize the needs for new and existing facilities to ensure equality of educational opportunities for all students; and (4) develop a long range strategy that provides for proper facilities to support Roanoke County educational standards. The Blue Ribbon Committee members visited each of the 28 school sites and held four community meetings, one in each of the County high schools. The March 17, 1997 165 - attended over 87 meetings in developing their plan. Their final funding recommendation was a $100 million capital needs program to be phased over ten years, with Phase 1 costing $40 to $43 million, Phase 2 costing $30 to $37 million, and Phase 3 costing $30 to $43 million. Mr. Martin introduced members of the Blue Ribbon Committee who reported on the following specific items in the Comprehensive Facility Study: (1) John Lyden spoke on equality issues; (2) Becky Walter reported on the evaluation of the 17 elementary schools including the phasing out of Roland E. Cook and a new school in Bonsack; (3) Michael Quinn spoke on the evaluation of the middle schools including the physical separation of Glenvar High and Middle Schools; and that the County adopt the middle school concept County-wide; (4) King Harvey reported on the Career Center and Arnold R. Burton Technology Center; (5) Donna Vittrel presented the high school recommendations which included the construction of a new high school in south County with 1100 students, and that the existing Cave Spring High School be kept open as a high school; (6) Bob Kaplan presented the committee recommendation for changes in philosophy and policy; (7) Mary Nasca presented recommendations on maintenance issues such as new roofs and air-conditioning, and on updating science labs, school enrollment projections, redistricting as a the first priority for overcrowded classrooms and increasing tuition for non-resident students. Jane Milliron presented the priorities for the next ten years. Phase I includes a new high school and sports complex, the separation of Glenvar Middle and 166 March 17, 1997 High Schools, a new Bonsack elementary schools and renovations to several other elementary schools for an approximate cost of $40 million. Phase 2 includes renovations to Cave Spring Middle School, the Career Center, Arnold R. Burton and renovations to elementary and high schools for a total estimated cost of $30 million. Phase 3 includes land acquisition for a new elementary school in South County, and new construction and/or renovations to other elementary and middle schools for an approximate cost of $30 million. Jeff White presented closing comments requesting that the School Board and Board of Supervisors embrace their recommendations and work toward implementation of the proposed plan, and that the Blue Ribbon Committee remain active to oversee the progress. INRE: CLOSING COMMENTS School Board Chair Mike Stovall and Board of Supervisors Chair Bob Johnson expressed their appreciation to the Blue Ribbon Committee for their dedication and hard work. Chairman Bob Johnson assured the members of the committee that the Board of Supervisors will work with the School Board to begin the implementation process. March 17, 1997 167 - - IN RE: ADJOURNMENT Chairman Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. ~ //. Q/.(-L~../ Mary H. Allen, CMC Clerk to the Board Approved by: ~~ ob L. John 0 Chairman Submitted by: --168 March 17, 1997 ,- - This page left intentionally blank