"This was bad day for Halifax County," said Halifax
County School Board member G.C. Ratliff.
"I know it's not over."
Ratliff, the Virgilina community's representative on the Halifax
County School Board, was one of three board members who voted
not to close Virgilina Elementary School.
But, Ratliff, Carl Furches and Arthur Reynolds were outnumbered.
The School Board, in a 5-3 vote, voted to shut the doors on the
community school at the end of the school year.
Children attending Virgilina Elementary School this year will
be transferred to South of Dan Elementary School and Cluster Springs
Elementary School next year.
A failure of the Virgilina residents in their bid to reach the
120-student enrollment target for the 2003-2004 school year they
had asked for in an agreement with the School Board last year
was behind the decision to close the doors on the school.
Outraged Virgilina residents in the audience began yelling at
the School Board after the decision was rendered.
School Board chairman Patricia Nelson had to ask uniformed deputies
to move up around the crowd to help retain order.
Virgilina Mayor John Youngk asked for permission to address the
board after the vote to close the school but was initially refused
by Nelson.
"You owe us that," one woman yelled at Nelson from the
audience.
After a brief discussion and a 5-3 vote by the School Board allowing
Youngk a brief time to speak, Youngk accused the School Board
of moving the time frame for the evaluation of the enrollment
target.
"Last year you adopted the 120 and 140 goal and we moved
to an advanced evaluation," Youngk pointed out.
"Originally, we were talking about the earliest being July.
Then you moved it to May. Then you moved it to February. Then,
you asked that 120 be preregistered this year.
"Then," continued Youngk," you asked for tuition
prepayment which is not required anywhere else in the county.
Then you disqualify preregistered valid constituents.
"We know of people who have transferred out of our zone for
no other reason than they wanted their folks to play ball in another
district," Youngk continued.
"I'm going to tell you this, if there's any American spirit
in this, we won't give up now. The fight has just begun."
Furches said closing Virgilina Elementary School "in my opinion,
amounts to child abuse and I will have no part in such a vote.
"Let's be consistent," continued Furches, "and
not show favoritism. If the benchmark is 120 then close the Career
Center and Wilson Memorial as well."
The retired Halifax County assistant principal pointed out to
the School Board that the body, years ago, changed the school
attendance zones in a manner that took students away from Virgilina
Elementary School.
"Why not give back the area you took away,?" he asked.
Donna Hudson, who served as the spokesman for the Virgilina delegation,
said after the meeting that the Virgilina supporters had 124 bonafide
enrollees for the school for the 2003-2004.
But, according to Ratliff, that was not the case.
During a 45-minute closed session, the School Board reviewed the
applications for out-of-zone and out-of-state students seeking
to transfer to Virgilina Elementary School.
Ratliff said after the meeting School Board members rejected some
of the applications.
"There weren't 124 solid, bonafide applications," said
Ratliff.
"There were a number of applications that were nebulous.
We questioned maybe the sincerity or the validity or whether they
were actually going to materialize. What we did, as a Board, was
we essentially applied policy to every one of the applications.
We're governed by our policies. That's what we use as a roadmap
in evaluating these."
Ratliff noted there was some contention surrounding a number of
the enrollment applications.
"It is the judgement call of each individual board member
as to whether that (120) number came in to policy or didn't,"
said Ratliff.
"The ones (board members) that felt like there weren't 120
could cite specific examples to get under that number and the
ones that felt like it was a viable number could cite examples
to say that there were. I feel that all of my fellow School Board
members interpreted all the data with due diligence.
"In the end, my decision was going to come down whether that
120 pre-enrollment figure was met," Ratliff pointed out.
"I felt like that with the number of applications that were
put forward, while not every one of them was viable, I felt like,
on balance, you had 120 you could work with. That's where it was
for me."
Ratliff said the only thing he was looking for from the Virgilina
supporters was results.
"It didn't matter to me that someone had tried real hard
or whatever," said Ratliff.
"We were past that point. We were at a point where it was
crunch time and we needed numbers."
Alan Gravitt, in making the motion to close the school, told the
audience that after having examined the enrollment applications
"I'm confident that they will not have 120 students."
Former School Board chairman Steve Anderson said after examining
the applications "there are some gray areas."
"There are not enough concrete names here to reach the 120
goal in my mind.
"From that perspective, it's a tough decision for me to make,"
added Anderson.
"So then, I have to weigh what the constituents in my district
tell me to do. I'm doing what Mr. Furches says, I'm listening
to my constituents.
"A huge majority of my constituents want us to move forward
and close this school," continued Anderson.
"That's the reason I make the decision that I do tonight."
Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt said yesterday
that going into Monday night's meeting, there were 20 out-of-zone
enrollment applications and 20 nonresident out-of-county enrollment
applications to be considered for Virgilina Elementary School.
As far as jobs are concerned, Witt said nobody at Virgilina Elementary
School would lose their job as a result of the closing of the
school.
"Everybody will be offered a job," Witt said.
"Whether they take it or not will is their own personal choice.
We feel a lot of them will go to South of Dan and Cluster Springs.
A lot of them have already as such."
As far as the students go, Witt said every effort is going to
be made to make the transition as smooth as possible.
"We have a very good program at South of Dan and Cluster
Springs," Witt said.
"We feel the students will transition very well into those
programs. Our interest is for the children and we feel that the
transition will go very well and that the children will be very
happy at their new school."
The closing of Virgilina Elementary School will save the county
an estimated $200,000 a year or more, Witt said.
He stressed, however, that dollars is not the sole driving force.
"Education is foremost for us," Witt said.
"Our decision is based on children and efficiency and not
one exclusive of the other."
Prior to Monday night's vote, Hudson, who acted as the spokesperson
for the Virgilina delegation, presented the School Board various
documents including lists of rental properties in the Virgilina
area, projected housing developments, out-of-zone enrollment reports
and other matters in an attempt to bolster their position.
"When you get directions from the Board of Supervisors to
run it (the school system) lean, they're not asking you to eliminate
schools or to bypass maintenance on roofs, they're asking you
to be prudent in purchasing extras and be careful in deciding
what your extras are," Hudson said.
"Extras in a county the size of Halifax County do not include
any school on the perimeter of the physical boundary.
"We are not a pawn in a game between two governing bodies
trying to work out a budget agreement," Hudson added.
"We applaud continued renovations and fine facilities. But
don't let it come at the price of our students. Don't blame all
the budget woes on Virgilina Elementary School."
In addressing the enrollment target of 120 students, Hudson pointed
out that at this point, no school can state what its exact enrollment
will be when the school year starts.
"I think you probably have a ballpark estimate, based upon
your best guesses," she pointed out.
"This is May 19, and whether you concur that we have 118
or 120 or 122 or 124 "bonafide" students for fall, we
have presented to you proof positive we are growing.
"We have done our share in working to grow the community
of Virgilina in order to meet enrollment targets that bring us
in line with pupil-teacher ratios for the rest of the county,"
added Hudson.
Hudson said after the meeting that the 120-student target was
not set for this date - that the target was set for the start
of the 2003-2004 school year.
"The target was for enrolled students for the 2003-2004 school
year," she said.
"That's for August or September, the start of the school
year. There is a lot of time between now and then. They should
give us credit for the projection."
"I'm very disappointed," she continued, "that they
(the School Board) didn't recognize and give us credit for the
growth we have shown and for the potential to continue to grow
and meet that target by September."
Hudson admitted that this meeting was a feasible time for the
School Board to make the decision on whether or not the 120-student
target was met.
"Today is a fine day to make that decision because we are
on target to make that 120," Hudson said.
"But," Hudson said, "the decision is, the question
is, are they (Virgilina) going to be at 120 then? I believe we
have shown that we have grown and will continue to grow."
A 15-year-old student at Halifax County High School was arrested
Thursday and charged with the possession of a handgun on high
school grounds, according to a report filed at the Halifax County
Sheriff's Office.
The student, a female resident of South Boston, allegedly brought
the handgun to school on Wednesday, May 7, according to police
reports.
Cpl. T.K. Redd of the South Boston Police Department said that
at approximately 3:15 p.m., Principal Albert Randolph called him
into his office to report the incident.
"I was called to the main office to speak with Randolph and
a couple of students," Redd wrote. "When I got to the
office (two students) were already there.
"Randolph explained to me that a female had brought a handgun
to school on May 7, and that he was interviewing (the two) about
the incident," he added.
After hearing the statement made by one of the students and transcribed
by Randolph, Redd took the student into custody, charging her
with the possession of a handgun on school property, according
to Redd's police report.
"The student was picked up at her home," Randolph said
yesterday. "She had been involved in some other incidents
that resulted in her suspension."
The gun was described by one of the students as an all-black handgun,
according to police reports.
According to a statement provided to police, one of the students
said the female had allegedly threatened another student.
Pulling up her shirt and displaying the weapon, she allegedly
threatened to harm another student, saying the other student would
"get hurt."
"The rumor is she was upset with another student because
she (the other student) was talking to her ex-boyfriend,"
Randolph said.
He called the incident an isolated case for the high school, and
said that officials were taking the matter seriously.
"The actual weapon itself, we only have the statement of
other students as to its authenticity," he said. "But
there was enough evidence for us to be convinced."
He said the school system has a policy of "zero tolerance
for weapons being brought into the school."
The juvenile has been transported to the W.W. Moore Juvenile Detention
Center in Danville, according to police reports.
In other police business, Anthony Dean Smart, 44, was arrested
Monday and charged with the assault and battery of a family member.
The alleged offense occurred on March 15.
Deputy T.R. Spencer was the arresting deputy.
Buddy Pete Francis Jr., 37, of Ed and Minnie's Trail in Nathalie,
was arrested Monday and charged with issuing two or more bad checks
in 90 days, a felony.
The alleged offense occurred November 18, 2002.
Deputy T.B. Sargent was the arresting deputy.
Darlene Chappell, 65, of South Boston and Clinton Ray Eastridge
were involved in an accident at the intersection of Route 360
and Route 58 late Sunday afternoon.
Trooper L.J. Crowder said that Chappell was traveling on Route
360 in a 92 Lincoln when Esteridge attempted to make a left hand
turn in his 93 Pontiac.
Chappell was listed as injured in the accident.
Crowder estimated that the Lincoln sustained $2000 damage, while
the Pontiac sustained $3000 damage.
No one was charged in the incident due to conflicting reports
as to the specifics of the accident, according to Crowder.
Just say, no, was the message Monday night when several citizens
urged supervisors to rein in spending.
The Board set June 9 as a budget work session to consider tax
rate increases as well as additions to the FY 2003-2004 general
fund budget.
June 2 is the Board's next meeting.
Last week, the Board's Finance Committee recommended a two-cent
increase in the real estate rate, with an estimated yield of $379,000,
and a 14-cent increase in the personal property tax, with an estimated
yield of $375,000.
The current real estate rate is 42 cents per $100 value and the
personal property tax rate is $1.76.
Monday night, Supervisor R.E. "Dickie" Abbott sought
specifics on proposed salary increases employees of the Treasurer,
Commissioner of the Revenue and Clerk of Court.
Finance Committee members proposed the $12,000 salary supplement
for each department during their meeting last week.
"I think it should be spread out," said Abbott, rather
than "certain ones" receiving the increases.
Abbott again questioned individual salary increases to county
staff.
Halifax County Administrator Joe Morgan said he would forward
the Board's request to department heads regarding salary increase
distribution.
Morgan noted it had been three years since the state gave increases
to those employees and that the General Assembly had set a 2.25
percent increase for constitutional offices and employees.
In setting a budget work session, Abbott said, "Give the
public a say in it."
Not all county residents approved proposed increases.
"It's the whole county system," charged L.T. Ferguson,
questioning the wisdom of several Industrial Development requests.
"How many new jobs has he ( the Industrial Development Authority
director) brought in? And he wants an assistant and a new office
building. What has he done to earn that?" he asked.
"Let's be reasonable, don't overload us with unnecessary
expenditures."
Several other echoed Ferguson's sentiments.
Elizabeth Jennings suggested the county develop a needs list and
a wish list.
"Don't put a burden on taxpayers with your wish list. The
shortest and easiest word in the English language to say is no,"
said Jennings.
David Shepherd, who lost his job last year after working with
Burlington Industries over 30 years, noted other industries are
struggling.
"Where am I going to find job in Halifax County that makes
near what I was making?" he asked.
Burlington closed its plants in Halifax and Clarksville and filed
for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year.
Robert Thomas, who worked at Burlington 28 years before retiring,
urged fiscal restraint by the Board.
"I think this county needs to run its finances like I run
mine. The county needs to have priorities and then, if there's
excess, get the other stuff."
Board chairman David Martin urged citizens to contact their supervisors.
"Each one of us has to justify our action," said Martin.
During the Monday night meeting, the Board also approved the Town
of Halifax's request that the county take over the issuance of
building permits and building inspections, effective May 20.
Halifax Town Manager Robert Greene, the town's building inspector,
is retiring this summer.
Political newcomer Sandra Rister threw her
hat into the arena Tuesday seeking the School Board seat in ED-7.
The seat is currently held by G.C. Ratliff.
"Basically, I want to see the best educational situation
in this county for each child," explained Rister.
The Virgilina native taught in the Virginia Beach school system
for 34 years before returning to Halifax County in 1996.
While trying to get a full picture of what needs to be done to
improve the local school system, Rister says that she has talked
with parents who opt for educational opportunities in private
schools, parents who transport their children to Virgilina from
other counties and states and parents who have taken their children
out of the school.
Rister would not offer an opinion on whether or not the Virgilina
Elementary School should remain open.
By Doug Ford
The Comets varsity girls soccer team played their second 1-0
game in three days agisnt GW Monday night in Danville, but this
time the "W" landed on the Halifax side of the ledger,
and with it a spot in the Western Valley District Tournament.
Morgan Young scored a goal 25 minutes into the first half, and
the Comets made it stand for a 1-0 win to earn the right to meet
top seed E.C. Glass in Lynchburg today at 5:30 p.m.
Goalie Racquel Jeffress turned away nine shots, the same as her
GW counterpart, and turned away several close-in shots, including
one on a GW breakaway.
GW had defeated Halifax by the same 1-0 score Friday on the same
field, in what Comets coach Sid Young termed a very physical contest.
"The officiating (Monday) was much better even though we
got called for more fouls than they did," said Young.
"I think the officials made some calls early in the game
that kept the game under control."
The Comets' first win this season against a Western Valley District
team came at the best possible time, and it arguably came against
the best possible opponent.
"I didn't really realize how close it was until I looked
at the films last night (Monday), said Comets coach Sid Young.
"In a sense, it makes the season for us. The win was real
gratifying, especially considering they had beaten us twice.
"Since they had beaten us twice, they (GW) may have taken
us a little lightly.
"The girls were very excited about it."
As the score indicated, the game was a tight, defensive minded
contest.
Young said his team played very well on defense, with Jessica
Lumsden having her best game of the season at sweeper.
"She played about as good as she can play," Young said.
Gina Guthrie also had the best game she's had this year, and Stacie
Griffin and Laura Robertson also played well, according to Young.
Young also cited the play of Julia Rogers, Attie Poirier and Morgan
Young, adding that two players up from the jayvee squad, made
a difference.
"Courtney McGill was a defender on the jayvee team,"
said Young.
"We used her as a marking back and she had a big game. She
really frustrated their (GW's) leading scorer.
"If we would have played that hard every game, we'd have
been in contention every game.
"Some of the girls said after the game they felt we played
more like a team."
Jeffress' key save came after Morgan's goal and prevented GW from
evening the score.
"GW had a breakaway and got off a good shot," recalled
Young.
"I don't see how Racquel stopped it. She got just enough
of the ball to cause it to miss."
The Comets had several other scoring opportunities in the contest,
but didn't get an extra tally, according to Young.
Although Halifax faces top seed E.C. Glass tonight in Lynchburg,
Young isn't conceding anything.
"On any given night, anybody can beat anybody," said
Young.
"That's why we play the game."
Reva Maxine Younger Barksdale, 79, of 8038
Chatham Road, Nathalie, died May 17 at her home.
Mrs. Barksdale was born in Halifax County on May 9, 1924, the
daughter of the late Joe Younger and Idean Y. Younger and was
married to the late John Thomas Barksdale. She was a member of
New Zion Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Rosalyn White and Alice Mays,
both of Brooklyn, NY; three sons, John Barksdale Jr. of Brooklyn,
Billy Joe Barksdale of Brewton, AL and Warren Barksdale of Nathalie;
12 grandchildren; and 12-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Barksdale will be held May 22, at 3
p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie N. Yancy
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends this evening from 7:00 until 8:00
at Jeffress Funeral Home, and other times at the home.
Lucinda Medley Dunaway, 82, of 406 Oak Lane,
South Boston, died May 18, at Twin Oaks Convalescent Home.
Mrs. Dunaway was born in Halifax County on March 5, 1921, the
daughter of Joseph Cleveland Medley and Martha Alice Fuller Medley,
and was married to John Henry Dunaway. She was a member of Halifax
Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Sallie D. Smith of Richmond,
Bernice D. Roberts and Barbara D. Satterfield, both of Alton;
two sons, Joseph Dunaway and Danny Dunaway, both of Keeling; two
sisters, Annie Mae Powell of Chase City and Mildred Dunaway of
Java; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services for Mrs. Dunaway will be held today, May 21,
at 2 p.m. at Halifax Baptist Church with the Revs. Dan Ward and
John Campbell officiating. Burial will take place in the church
cemetery.
Virginia Fulp Moore, 83, of 2228 Love Shop
Road, Halifax, died May 17, at Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mrs. Moore was born in Halifax County on August 23, 1919, the
daughter of Robert Lee Fulp and Janie Howerton Fulp and was married
to Henry Oscar Moore. She was a member of Dan River Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Jim Moore of Cluster Springs; two daughters,
Nancy Jane Moore of Chesapeake and Patricia Elizabeth Moore of
Greenville, NC; one sister, Katherine Barker of Eden, NC; three
grandchildren, Lynn Good of South Boston, Emily Moore of Richmond
and Chris Moore of Cluster Springs; and two great-grandchildren,
Michael Good and Brian Good, both of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mrs. Moore were held May 20 at 11 a.m. at
Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Larry Frakes officiating.
Burial followed in Dan River Baptist Church Cemetery.
Ancy Carol Thompson Roark died May 17. She
was the wife of Raymond Ray Roark, formerly of South Boston.
Born in Lynchburg on September 21, 1928, she was the daughter
of the late Jack Lee and Mary Poole Thompson. Mrs. Roark was a
retired employe of Consolidated Shoe Company, and was a lifetime
member of Fort Hill United Methodist Church. She was an active
member of Diantha Hodges Circle, the Forrest Oglesby Sunday school
class, and the sanctuary choir.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Cynthia Roark Allen
and her husband, Mike; three sons, Jon Steven and his wife, Lori,
Philip Alvin and fiance', Emily Holt, and Tracy Allan Roark and
his wife, Tammy; four granddaughters, Sarah Brooke Allen, Brittany
Elizabeth Roark, Hannah Margaret Roark and Cameron Nicole Roark;
three brothers and their wives, Erle and Dana Thompson, Lawrence
and Doris Thompson and Jimmy and Peggy Thompson; and her twin
sister, Nancy Taylor, of Stafford.
Mrs. Roark was preceded in death by five brothers, Jack William,
Cecil Taliaferro, Russell Alvin, Alfred Drinkard and Richard Guy;
and three sisters, Marguerite Thompson Wallace, Elnora Thompson
Tuck and Shirley Thompson Vasold.
A funeral service was held May 20 at 11 a.m. at Fort Hill United
Methodist Church with the Revs. Glen Cannon and Janet Hawkins
officiating. Burial followed at Fort Hill Memorial Park.
Dr. Frank Merritt West Jr., 74, of Altavista,
died May 19, at his home. He was the husband of Margaret Poling
West.
Born January 16, 1929, in South Boston, he was a son of the late
Frank Merritt West Sr. and Bertha Spradlin West. Dr. West was
a member of First Baptist Church, graduated from Virginia Tech
in 1950, and the Medical College of Virginia, School of Dentistry
in 1954, and served two years in the US Navy Dental Corps. He
opened his dental practice in Altavista in 1956.
In addition to his wife, Dr. West is survived by three sons, Frank
M. West III of Hurt, Dr. David A. West and Dr. Charles M. West,
both of Altavista; one daughter, Mary West Killian of Newton,
NC; one sister, Dora Stubblefield of South Boston; and seven grandchildren,
Charlotte Ashley West, Crystal Ann West, Mary Elizabeth West,
David Alan West Jr., Franklin Charles West, Chloe Louise Killian,
and Erin Elizabeth Killian.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today, May 21, at First
Baptist Church by the Rev. Kirby Smith.
The family will receive friends immediately following the memorial
service.