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<br />()~) <br />t..,/O <br /> <br />MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1987 <br /> <br />with the YMCA and its swimming pool; a wide range of extra- <br />curricular activities; outdoor education for students in grade <br />6; programs that recognize academic excellence such as the <br />"Big Mil; parallel scheduling to provide small group <br />instruction in grades kindergarten through 6; exploratory <br />vocational courses at Martinsville Junior High School; <br />interscholastic academic competition, grades 9 through 12 <br />(ACE); and competitive salaries and benefits for all <br />employees. <br /> <br />Certain facets of the report and facts stressed by members of the School Board and <br /> <br />staff, particularly by School Board Chairman Carter, dealt with the City's <br /> <br />inability to expand (through annexation), decreasing enrollment of students and, <br /> <br />yet, increasing costs to operate and maintain the school system, the uncertainty <br /> <br />of State funding from biennium to biennium, the need within the City of <br /> <br />"affordable" housing, and the City's "aging" population. ~1eanwhile, Mayor Oakes <br /> <br />established a special committee (composed of himself, City Manager Brown, School <br /> <br />Board Chairman Carter, and School Superintendent Calkins) to study some of these <br /> <br />facets with the hope that ways and means can be developed to counteract some of <br /> <br />the trends cited; and Councilman Cole pointed to emphasizing safety in the <br /> <br />system's busing operations, as advocated by the City's Transportation Safety <br /> <br />Commission. Councilman Cole also pointed with pride to the reading program <br /> <br />undertaken and sponsored by the High Street Baptist Church during the past summer <br /> <br />with the assistance of volunteer help, in which some 167 persons were enrolled, <br /> <br />and--joined by other members of Council--Mr. Cole commended this church (of which <br /> <br />Mr. Finley is an active member) for its significant community service. <br /> <br />In accordance with the requirements of Section 2.1-344 of the CODE Of VIRGINIA <br /> <br />(1950, and as amended), and upon motion, duly seconded and unanimously carried, <br /> <br />Council convened with the School Board into an Executive Session for the purpose <br />