The Isle of Wight County School Board voted to issue a request for proposals for professional architectural design services to assess options for a pre-K–5 Westside Elementary School. Board members and staff emphasized that approving the RFP does not commit the district to build a new school but starts the process to develop design options and cost estimates.

Superintendent’s staff said the design and permitting process typically takes nine to 12 months. "Designing permitting typically takes 9 to 12 months," Dr. Coleman told the board.

Why it matters: Westside Elementary is close to 100 years old, and principal Johnson told the board the building experiences chronic leaks, ceiling and tile damage, plumbing and restroom failures and a failing sewer line that has already required deep repairs. Johnson said those conditions created health, safety and instructional disruptions and that some spaces used by the community show visible deterioration.

Board action: By motion, the board approved issuing an RFP for architectural design services for a proposed pre-K–5 Westside Elementary School. The motion passed unanimously.

What staff said: District staff said the RFP stage is needed to lock in architectural pricing and to give the district options — renovation versus replacement — with realistic cost estimates. Staff and several board members said that identifying a site is necessary before architectural plans reach 90% completion; however, staff said architectural work can begin before a final site is selected to inform choices.

Principal’s description of building conditions: Principal Johnson described hallways and classrooms with repeated water intrusion, ceiling tiles buckling, persistent restroom odors and intermittent closures of facilities for safety. She said the campus has required repeated major repairs — including sewer-line replacements, HVAC and chiller work, drainage projects and roofing — and noted the district’s prior repair estimates had increased dramatically.

Clarifying details: Staff said earlier engineering and needs assessments exist from previous committees (2018–2019) and that those reports should be reviewed; board members asked staff to gather those documents. Staff warned the cost to repair or replace systems has risen with inflation and that even the earliest steps in design would require funding commitments later in the process.

Next steps: District staff will issue the RFP, assemble selection committees, and return options and timeline updates to the board. Board members also asked the district to identify urgent, interim repairs that must be done while the design and budgeting process proceeds.