vote on the minutes until a future meeting. “Out

vote on the minutes until a future meeting.

“Out of courtesy to these visitors, we should proceed,” Eastham said, indicating the dentists who had sat through several heated exchanges.

Before the board could proceed, however, Eastham handed out papers to each board member present, intoning dramatically. “Here are your 1983 taxes, Mrs. Massie, compared to your 1982 taxes; and yours, Mrs. Reeve; and yours, Mr. Lane.” To the accompaniment of the chairman’s gavel, Eastham resumed his place.

Community Service

Program Refused

In response to a letter from Commonwealth Attorney Doug Baumgardner, Superintendent Robert Estabrook recommended that the board refuse to offer a school project for community service. This option is available at the judge’s discretion for misdemeanants in lieu of a jail sentence or, in some cases, a fine. Court Services monitors the suitability of the defendant and projects in other school districts have included maintenance, grounds work and janitorial duties.

“I just don’t feel comfortable with this,” said Estabrook.

The board agreed, and unanimously voted it down.

In other business, the board voted to congratulate the two students chosen for the Governor’s School for the Gifted; acknowledged a July completion date for the new Bus Shop; heard a

transportation report dealing with problems of older buses; and heard an invitation to attend a program by the school’s chapter I students on Friday at 9:00 or 10:00.

Nature Calls

An item in the bills caught Eastham’s attention. “This is a lot of money for a portable toilet,” he said. “Doesn’t the construction crew (for the new bus shop) provide their own?”

“This is for our employees at the old bus shop,” Estabrook responded, “and it fulfills an OSH A requirement.”

“You mean nature hasn’t called before in all these m

i