3/17/1997 - Special
March 17, 1997
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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,
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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
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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
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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.
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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:
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ob L. John 0
Chairman
Submitted by:
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