Minutes 03/24/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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;. TUESDAY MARCH 24, 1981 - Mrs. Dameron, you and our other guests are welcome here--and we acknowledge the petition and your remarks. Now, I would like to again express my feelings on the matter. Because of State and City Law--this is not Council's issue. The City Charter and Statutes of Virginia relating to School Funds state clearly that (1) the supervision of the public schools in the City shall be vested in a School Board, and (2) the monies appropriated by the governing body for public schools shall relate to its total only, and not to individual line items. -. The State Law explicitly addresses this particular issue. State Code Section 22.1-79, Powers and Duties, spells out the six specific duties vested in a School Board, one of which is to "provide for the consolidation of schools whenever such procedure will contribute to the efficiency of the school division". This law has been cited in Court Decisions--for example, from a 1959 court decision: "It is not the function of a City Council to determine what schools or grades should be operated as a part of the school system of the City. That is a function exclusively reserved to the School Board." This is a cost-benefit issue. The City School Board has the expertise and responsibility to look at both sides of the question--both the costs and the benefits--and they have done so. Council's authority is only to look at total school costs as they affect the overall City Budget. The School Board has conducted numerous public hearings and, after months of study, has voted unanimously to close a school. As I see it, the issue is decided; and whether we agreed or disagree, I think the proper approach now is for all of us--teachers, parents, students, and all interested citizens--to join together and make the School Board's decision work to the betterment of our children. On behalf of the Civic Beautification Committee of the Martinsville Garden Study Club, represented in person by Mrs. Sallie M. Clark, Mrs. Hampton C. Goode, Mrs. Victor A. Lester, and Mrs. June West, Mrs. Clark apprised Council of the intended usage and development of the Victor A. Lester Memorial Park, located at Finley and Mulberry Streets, as a neighborhood park and, to this end, urged that Council study the professional plans for the development of this park, which might be a model and forerunner for other such parks in various parts of the City. As Council's representative for the study of these plans with members of the Garden Study Club, and the possible implementing of such plans, Council appointed Councilman Henry C. Reed.