One member of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors is at odds with the county's school board over the future use of Bent Mountain Elementary School.

The school board voted last month to close the school at the end of the academic year, and Supervisor Ed Elswick, who represents the Windsor Hills District, wants the property title turned over to the county.

At a budget workshop between the two boards Thursday evening -- that at times became heated -- several school board members expressed interest in maintaining ownership but leasing the facility to the county or other community groups.

"I have great belief there will be another school on Bent Mountain at some point in time," said Drew Barrineau, the Windsor Hills District school board representative.

Elswick, who said he was speaking for a group of Bent Mountain residents, said the group is interested in using the 99-year-old building as a private school, for county-based parks and recreation programs and other entertainment functions, such as theatrical plays and fish fries.

"We don't want you coming in and kicking us out," Elswick said.

At least two school board members said they sought the rights to give fair notice and to reclaim the facility for educational purposes.

"Just make sure when you want to hold on to that property you are holding on to it for the right reason," said Supervisor Richard Flora of the Hollins District.

This school year, there are about 50 students at Bent Mountain. Closing the school and transferring the students to Back Creek Elementary School will save the division more than $500,000.

The two boards left the meeting with an understanding the supervisors will formulate a formal proposal and return to the school board in coming weeks.

The school division is facing a more than $10 million reduction in state aid for the next fiscal year, which is a 7.5 percent reduction of the current operating budget. The boards met Wednesday to discuss ways to absorb the deficit.

The county and the school division have an agreement to share new revenue in hearty times and split the negative in bleak years. County staff have indicated that the local government may be able to increase its transfer by about $3.4 million to cover the reductions in the proposed House version of the budget.

Beyond that it is going to be tough, according to Diane Hyatt, assistant county administrator. The Senate version would increase the transfer by an additional million dollars, based on the formula shared by the county and the school system.

Hollins District school board member Jerry Canada asked whether the supervisors would be amenable to a transfer from the capital budget to cover operating costs, should a midyear emergency occur.

"As a Band-Aid to cover state revenue reductions, I personally wouldn't have a problem with it," Flora said.

In other school board news:

At least eight people attended a 7 p.m. meeting with the intention to publicly address the board about the proposal to eliminate participation in the Roanoke Valley Governor's School.

School board Chairman Mike Stovall announced the division's intent to send students to the gifted regional program next school year. But he added that the program may be re-examined next year if budget conditions do not improve.