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<br />~ 1 (1 <br /> <br />MONDAY <br /> <br />OCTOBER 7, 1974 <br /> <br />A special and duly called meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, at <br /> <br />the invitation of the City School Board (see minutes of September 17, 1974), was held jointly <br /> <br />with said School Board on Monday, October 7, 1974, beginning at 12 o'clock noon, in the School <br /> <br />Board office at Albert Harris Middle School, for the purpose of being briefed by the School <br /> <br />Board and the School administration on declining school enrollment and local population trends. <br /> <br />All members of Council were present, viz., Harry L. Boaz, Mayor; William D. Hobson, Vice Mayor; <br /> <br />G. S. Fitz-Hugh, Jr.; Barry A. Greene; and Morton W. Lester. In addition to School Board and <br /> <br />Administrative personnel present were representatives of several local PTA organizations and <br /> <br />members of the local news media. <br /> <br />After the stating of the purpose of this meeting by School Board Chairman W. K. Putney, School <br /> <br />Superintendent John D. Richmond and Administrative Assistant Harold Cumberledge presented the <br /> <br />results and findings of a recent school census and school enrollment survey, with projections <br /> <br />thereof, which indicated that among the total school facilities and, also, within several <br /> <br />individual schools there is physical room to accommodate up to an additional 1,000 students or <br /> <br />pupils, contingent upon no enlargement of current City boundaries and no additional housing <br /> <br />being provided; otherwise, the School System could eliminate the operating of one of its present <br /> <br />seven schools, probably in the forthcoming 1975-76 school year if a decision thereon is made by <br /> <br />February of 1975. School officials emphasized the point that members of City Council should be <br /> <br />apprised of these current and projected trends and should share in any decision thereon inasmuch <br /> <br />as School officials do not have the over-view of the City's plans, if any, as to boundary <br /> <br />enlargement and/or contemplated housing projects. Members of Council, however, expressed every <br /> <br />confidence in the School Board and School Administration and, furthermore, indicated concurrence <br /> <br />with any decision the Board might make in the interest of maintaining and meeting local <br />