What’s Next For Closed Schools?

With the wave of actual and proposed school closing this year, the question looms: What will happen to the school buildings?
Who owns them?
What policy governs their disposal?
To date, Cluster Springs, South of Dan, Halifax, C.H. Friend and Washington-Coleman elementary schools are officially closed.
Last week, the School Board also proposed closing Turbeville and Wilson Memorial elementary schools for the upcoming year as the Board struggled with a $1 million budget shortfall. A public hearing is scheduled by the School Board on Monday, June 25
School property use defines it control.
“The school system has possession of buildings while they are used as schools,” explained Halifax County Administrator Bryan Foster on Friday.
However, if the schools are not being used for school programs, Foster said they return to the county.
“The county wants all the buildings the schools do not want because they (supervisors) want to sell them,” said the county administrator. “They will market them with intention to sell.”
In South Boston, C.H. Friend’s fate is unknown. South Boston has explored Washington-Coleman’s possibilities as the school transcends.
Recreation programs and an early childhood learning center have been aired as possibilities there.
“At this point, our Board’s philosophy is we need to return buildings to the county if there is anyway they can raise revenue,” Superintendent of Schools Paul Stapleton said Friday.
“The only two buildings that our Board would want to keep for students is the old Cluster Springs for the early childhood special ed and Halifax for the Law and Leadership Academy. For a lot of reasons, Halifax works real well as a Law and Leadership,” added Stapleton. “We have the money in the budget to keep it open next year, but just for operational costs.”
Overall, Stapleton sees the School Board as on track.
“Bottom line, two or three years down the road I think people will look back and say this was good for the children,” he said of Board actions. “I feel like I am doing what is best for the children, and bringing the experience I have had to the county.
“A sacred cow is not cutting teacher positions,” he said, noting the aim is to keep the teacher/pupil ratio low.
“Our School Board has had to make such tough decisions this year,” he said.
In the Town of Halifax, the announced closure of Halifax Elementary this year came as a surprise to many residents and teachers. However, its designation as a Law and Leadership Academy has been advanced by the School Board.
Last week, Halifax Town Manager Carl Espy said that Halifax Elementary School is located in an R-1 area, which allows single residences and schools.
Stapleton said the School Board will probably take up the issue of the school buildings at its July meeting.
“The supervisors are asking for the buildings back as soon as possible,” said the superintendent. “Our Board will try to cooperate as best they can.”

Grant To Fund G-P Demolition

Halifax County has been awarded a $700,000 Virginia Community Development Block Grant (VCDBG) to fund the demolition of the 166,000 square foot former Georgia-Pacific building on Plywood Trail, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced Friday.
“The site, once cleared, will offer a premier location for new and expanding enterprises in the county,” Kaine said. “As a result of this project, the county projects that up to 300 new jobs will be created as new industries locate to the redeveloped site.”
According to Halifax County Administrator Bryan Foster, the $700,000 is part of $1,181,296 that the county has secured for the G-P demolition project.
The other $481,296 is a part of a federal earmark that the Industrial Development Authority has already received and is using as matching funds for the VCDBG grant, Foster explained.
Foster said the grant would allow the county to transform the G-P into a desirable site for economic development.
“We thank the Governor and the Commonwealth for awarding these funds to Halifax County,” Foster said. “Demolishing the old Georgia-Pacific facility and removing the blight will be a tremendous help in redeveloping and marketing this property.
“This has been a top priority of the Board of Supervisors and IDA for several years and I’m glad we will be able to bring this project to fruition,” Foster added.
VCDBG is a grant program that benefits low and moderate-income residents and supports community and economic development projects like housing, public water/sewer systems, downtown revitalization and health care programs, Kaine said.
The grants are awarded through a competitive process and many of the projects funded with the grants focus on the elimination of slums and removing blighting conditions, Kaine added.
Halifax’s VCDBG was one of 19 awarded Friday totaling nearly $10 million, according to Kaine.

Planners Face Three Hearings

County planners will hold public hearings on three conditional use permit (C.U.P.) requests during their meeting Wednesday.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the public meeting room at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
First will be a hearing on a C.U.P. request from Christopher Easley to operate an auto body repair shop on Doug’s Trail, off of Grubby Road (Route 678).
Next will be a hearing on a C.U.P. request from Tom and Mary Pittard to operate an auto repair service on Charles Lane, southwest of L.P. Bailey Highway.
Lastly, planners will receive comment on a C.U.P. and rezoning request from Malcolm E. Ragans to operate a recycling center on Old Cluster Springs Road (Route 704) south of U.S. 58.
In addition to the permit, Ragans is seeking to rezone 13 acres from A-1 (agricultural) to B-2 (business) for the recycling center.
Following the hearings, the commission will receive reports on actions by the Board of Supervisors and staff reports on Virgilina area proposals and pending applications.
Under unfinished business, the Commission will address an ordinance interpretation for building standard variances.
And under new business, planners are expected to recommend setting two public hearings, one for a C.U.P. request from James D. Anderson Sr. for a tire business on Mill Road and another for a C.U.P. request from Eric D. Wingard for a recreational vehicle camping area – four spaces, on Eric Lane, east of Ponderosa Road.

Wilson H. Burgess

Wilson H. Burgess, 90, of Alexandria died June 2, 2007 at his home.
Mr. Burgess was born October 2, 1916, in Halifax County to Samuel H. Burgess and Nannie Henderson Burgess, and was married to the late Florence Watkins Burgess. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Navy, World War II.
Survivors include one son, Billy Burgess and wife, Mary, of Clifton; one daughter, Susan Beckwith and husband, Walter, of Alexandria; one brother, John Burgess of Alton; and two grandchildren, Lauren and Matthew of Alexandria.
Seven sisters and three brothers, preceded Mr. Burgess in death.
Funeral services were held June 6 at 1 p.m. at Everly-Wheatly Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Ivy Hill Cemetery, Alexandria.

Dorothy Davenport Gulley Slaughter

A funeral for Mrs. Dorothy Davenport Gulley Slaughter will be held today, June 18, at 11 a.m. at the Scottsburg United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bonnie Pizzeck officiating.
Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mrs. Slaughter, 83, of Scottsburg Road in Scottsburg, died Friday, June 15, at South Boston Manor.
She was born in Halifax County on April 4, 1924, the daughter of the late Henry Samuel Davenport and Ruby Wilburn Davenport and was married first to William A. Gulley Sr. and then to Jesse B. Slaughter.
Mrs. Slaughter was a member of the Scottsburg United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the United Methodist Women, and she was also a member of the Scottsburg VFD Ladies Auxiliary.
She is survived by two sons, James T. Gulley and wife Suzanne of South Boston, and William A. Gulley Jr. and wife Josephine of Alton; five grandchildren, Mary Jo Irby and husband Mark of Clover, Sharlene Riddlebarger and husband Nick of Lynchburg, James Thomas Gulley Jr. of Wilmington, N.C., Krista Comer and husband Craig of South Boston and Jonathan Gulley of Scottsburg, and six great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Slaughter was preceded in death by a brother, Wilson Davenport.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Scottsburg VFD Ladies Auxiliary, Scottsburg, Va. 24589, or the Scottsburg United Methodist Church.

Charlie Swanson Powell
A funeral for Mr. Charlie Swanson Powell will be held tomorrow, June 19, at 2 p.m. at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Terry Scarce officiating.
Burial will follow in the Oakland Cemetery.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7:00 to 8:30 at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home, 2074 Wolf Trap Road in South Boston.
Mr. Powell, 65, died Saturday, June 16, at Duke Medical Center.
He was born in Halifax County on May 9,1942, the son of the late Wiley Robert Powell and Bessie Rickman Powell and was married to Allie Seamster Powell.
Mr. Powell was a member of the Scottsburg Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife and mother, Mr. Powell is survived by a sister, Susan Powell Canada and husband Kenneth of South Boston, and two sisters-in-law, Alease Grimm and husband James of Newport News and Betty Powell of South Boston.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert L. Powell and a sister, Edith Ann Powell.
For memorials please consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va. 24592 or the American Heart Association.

Scrambling For Alternatives

Halifax County School Board Trustees gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a proposal that trims almost $1 million from local funds in the 2007-2008 budget.
The most far-reaching provisions of that proposal recommend closing Turbeville and Wilson Memorial elementary schools and the elimination of 19 school system positions.
The proposal also calls for eliminating summer sports camps and the after-school activity bus service, and that has high school athletic officials and coaches searching for alternatives.
“We had a number of different people coming in this year, including several new coaches, and that’s one of the reasons we weren’t organized to do something for this summer,” said HCHS Athletic Director Allen Lawter.
Summer sports camps provide a positive experience for both participants and coaches, who conduct them, he added.
Lack of an after-school activity bus service impacts more than athletics, he noted.
“If you go out and look at the after-school activity buses, not only athletes use them but a lot of other students,” said Lawter.
“In a county this large, that would impact the kids who use that service, and we would have to see who or how many it does affect.
If summer camps are eliminated from the 2007-08 school budget, it would mark two consecutive years without them.
“We’ve had camps for baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, wrestling and boys and girls basketball,” explained Lawter.
“It’s a very positive thing, it allows the kids to get excited about the sport and to keep them excited.
“And, our coaches are able to see and work with the kids at a young age.”
Lawter emphasized that now was the time for alternative plans to be made to ensure summer sports camps do not disappear altogether.
“We have to get together and pull this off in a different manner, either next year or down the road,” said Lawter.
“All of these are tough decisions and it’s tough anytime you cut anything, including the sports camps.
“We have to get the coaches together, and we have a year to plan it. We may be able to do something and we may not.
“But, hopefully, we can get something going, even if we have to charge a small fee.”
One possibility, according to Lawter, is for individual booster clubs to sponsor their particular sports camp, with fees charged going toward that booster club for that sport.
He cautioned that alternative ideas are still in the discussion stage, and that he and the Comets coaches will do everything they can to bring the camps back next year.
“We’ll do the best we can to keep our athletic programs moving forward, and I think the plus we have going right now is that we have some dedicated people,” he said.
“There’re always obstacles, but we have people willing to come up with solutions to overcome those obstacles.
“For instance, in football we’re putting together a great staff, and our volleyball program has made great strides.
“Our new basketball coach is putting together his staff and we’re excited about that. And, we do well in spring sports with good coaches and we have some stability there.
“These are tough decisions throughout the whole school system and we’re not going to cry about it, but find a way to overcome it and continue heading in the right direction.”
Comets football head coach Stan Hodgin estimated that about 30 kids from the three football teams - ninth grade, junior varsity and varsity - took advantage of the after-school activity bus service last year.
He echoed Lawter’s comments in that he and his coaches will have to find alternative ways to get the student-athletes home from practice.
“If that won’t be an avenue for kids to get home after practice, we’ll have to find other ways,” said Hodgin.
“I would hope that transportation would never be the reason a young man would not play football, and we’ll seek a solution on an individual basis if that (budget cut) happens.”
Three different football teams may involve multiple solutions, he added.
“We may pair up kids who live near one another with one who has use of a car, or we may actually have coaches take some kids home,” noted Hodgin.
“We’ll work for viable solutions, so we don’t have any youth who wants to play football be denied because of transportation issues.
He also agreed with Lawter that any proposal to recommend closing schools or cutting personnel or services was a tough one to make.
“Obviously, this was a difficult decision to make and there are other areas being cut, but if anybody’s reaction is to sit in a corner and pout, that won’t do anything to help us.
“The after-school activity bus service is a tremendous service to the kids in our community,” continued Hodgin.
“And the fact that the service may not be available for the coming year means that we have to be creative enough and active enough to help them find a solution.
“We need to find a way to help them get their education, which is the number one reason they’re here, and to provide them with an opportunity to participate in extra curricular activities, including sports.
“We still want them to have that opportunity, and there’s no reason the loss of activity buses should create a situation where someone cannot play football.”

VIR Gearing Up For CCS Motorcycle Races

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
After having hosted auto races throughout the spring and early summer, Virginia International Raceway is gearing up for its first motorcycle racing event of the season.
VIR will host the seventh annual Virginia Festival of Speed Saturday and Sunday, featuring the riders and teams of the ASRA (American SportBike Racing Association) and the CCS (Championship Cup Series) racing series.
There will be plenty of action with riders in nine different classes competing throughout the weekend.
Two-day tickets will be available at the gate for $25. Individual day tickets will be $10 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday.
Saturday’s action starts at 8 a.m. with two rounds of practice for all classes going until 11 a.m.
At noon there will be four 12-minute qualifying sessions, one for each of four ASRA classes. Following qualifying, there will be a series 25-minute GT races and seven-lap CCS races with nine races scheduled.
Sunday’s activity starts at 8 a.m. with one round of practice for each of seven race groups. Beginning at 9:30 a.m. there will be a series of 7-lap CCS races, one for each of four classes.
Following a one-hour lunch break, racing will resume with 13 races slated for the afternoon session, the longest of which will be an 18-lap race for Factory Pro SportBike class.
Competitors in this weekend’s event will be competing for points in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship Series.
For fans not familiar with the series visiting VIR this weekend, the Championship Cup Series is a series that was founded in 1984 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.
CCS became the leader in Sportsman level motorcycle racing while offering competition across the country at some of the nation’s top road courses. Its parent company is the American SportBike Racing Association LLC, owned and operated by Kevin & Nancy Elliott.
The CCS racing series offers a professional racing environment for both beginning and experienced riders. The series offers competition in four major displacement breakdowns (Lightweight - Middleweight - Heavyweight - Unlimited) and three major classes (SuperSport - SuperBike - Grand Prix) for each
The ASRA Pro Series offers competition on a more professional level. For those that like endurance racing, the GT classes and Team Challenge Series offer good competition.

Juneteenth Day Basketball Tourney Tuesday

The First Annual Juneteenth Day Basketball Tournament is set for the South Boston Recreation Department Gym, beginning tomorrow.
The double elimination tourney has no entry fee and will be played from June 19-21 at the Rec Center. It’s being held as a service to the young men of South Boston/Halifax ages 18-29, and in celebration of Juneteenth Day.
All participants must be residents of South Boston or Halifax County. Each team should wear matching jerseys/shirts with numbers.
For more information or to register, call 575-4230.