Roanoke County reverses decision on Cave Spring High School plans

The county has put all relocation options back on the table.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – The construction committee for Roanoke County Public Schools is opening up more options for relocating students from Cave Spring High School. 

The committee had previously narrowed the options down to relocating Cave Spring High School students to Hidden Valley High School. Ninth-graders would stay at the middle schools.

"It was built basically on an elementary school concept and the hallways get very crowded and it's well overdue for the renovation, said Mike Wray, Roanoke County School board member, representing the Cave Spring district. 

At Friday's construction committee meeting, the school board and the school administration placed all options back on the table for consideration.

At the Nov. 7 meeting, the school board and the school administration discussed several options for the renovation and expansion of Cave Spring High School, set to begin in June, including where to safely locate students during the project. 

The other options include leaving students at Cave Spring and doing the construction in phases. It would be a more expensive and longer option. The board is also considering renting Tanglewood Mall space that was formerly occupied by J.C. Penney's.

"What's the best community project we can do for the amount of money that we have? We're staying within our budget, we're trying to be fiduciaries of our taxpayer dollars," Wray said. 

The Roanoke County School Board is asking for the public's input about the project at two upcoming meetings.

"Ithink it's important that we put it back out there and the citizens have their say in these options and also anything else that may occur," Wray said. 

The first meeting will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Cave Spring High School. The second will be Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Hidden Valley High School.