Perriello visits Campbell school helped by stimulus

GLADYS -- Rep. Tom Perriello made his first stop during Congress' Easter break yesterday at Gladys Elementary School, which faced the possibility of being closed until federal stimulus money eased Campbell County's fiscal crunch.

The 210 pupils were ready for his visit. Fourth-graders said "Tom Perriello" in unison when Lacy Webb, the school's principal, ushered the congressman into their classroom.

"You even pronounced it right," Perriello said.

"We've been practicing," said their teacher, Robin Smith.

The class gave Perriello an envelope of letters they had written for military people serving overseas.

"I will make sure our soldiers get these letters," Perriello told them.

Although Campbell County officials said in February that Gladys might be closed to save about $724,000, the county dropped that possibility because it is receiving $3.3 million in federal stimulus money for its schools.

In a fifth-grade class taught by Lori Stone, Perriello pointed to a picture of the U.S. Capitol on the bulletin board. "That's where I work," the Democrat from Albemarle County told the pupils.

Webb said: "It was a big thrill for them when they heard a congressman was coming."

Later yesterday, Perriello visited Danville for a roundtable discussion on weatherization and energy efficiency at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

He also planned to visit an energy project in South Boston that converts landfill gas to energy.

Perriello said he wants to make Southside Virginia a central part of the nation's effort to develop new sources of energy.

A dozen stops around the 5th District were on his schedule for the week.

Ray Reed is a staff writer for The News & Advance in Lynchburg.