Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 1 of 3 · from the scan, no model involved
Elect the School Board
We are heartened by the news that Washington resident ^ Susan Parrish is organizing an effort to place a referendum r: for an elected School Board on the ballot in November.
To make the ballot, 10 percent, or about 350 of the n" county’s eligible voters, must sign a petition by Aug. 5. If the * referendum is approved, the first election for School Board members would be in 1995.
Last year, Virginia belatedly joined the other 49 states ir passing legislation to allow localities to elect their school ~ boards, with the authority of a referendum passed by its "voters. "J Elected school boards are an idea whose time is way past due, as evidenced by the fact that Virginia is the last state in the nation to approve them. School board members should be ^elected on their own merits, not subject to the whims of the - “ county’s supervisors or a selection committee.
We hasten to add that there is no evidence that the county’s Board of Supervisors has wielded influence, undue * or otherwise, on the local School Board. In fact, during recent years the supervisors and the School Board have enjoyed a _good relationship. Even the cuts necessary in this recessionary time have been accomplished with a healthy debate and minimum of acrimony on either side.
However, we also feel that the county’s voters should have the choice about whether our School Board is elected or appointed. If the majority is happy with the present arrangement, so be it. If they feel an elected board is better, they will make that choice.
One final note. We agree with School Board Chairman Beverly Massie that an elected board without taxing authority is not really autonomous. Without authority to levy the tax necessary to fund its budget, even an elected board is still beholden to the Board of Supervisors.
There is a rising clamor among local governments for the General Assembly to address the present limited taxing authority of cities, counties and towns. That problem will likely be addressed in the next few years. Taxing authority for school boards would be one method to raise additional revenue.
93.0%