At a Prince Edward County Public Schools board meeting (date not specified), Moseley Architects presented a September progress report on the new elementary school addition and delivered a facility study with three renovation options for the high school auditorium.

The architect, Jennifer Potts of Moseley, told the board the elementary construction remains on schedule for the next phase and that exterior siding, windows and interior finishes are progressing. “We are staying on task for the move out date,” Potts said, noting ongoing work on framing, roofing, mechanical rough‑ins and a chiller pad planned to be connected in the next few weeks.

The consultants also presented a three‑option plan for the Barbara Johns Auditorium (the board referred to it as the auditorium study). Option 1 — described as a light renovation that preserves much of the auditorium character while replacing HVAC, rehabilitating the roof, updating stage lighting, sound and projection and replacing seating — was presented at about $2.4 million. Option 2 (a medium renovation adding acoustic panels, larger finish updates and accessibility seating changes) was estimated at $2.9 million. Option 3 (a heavier renovation with reconfiguration for ADA access, new house floor and more invasive corridor/ramps work) was estimated at $4.4 million.

Potts said the HVAC package is a major line item: the team estimated a new HVAC system at about $350,000 and roof rehabilitation at about $166,000. The superintendent, Dr. Chip Jones, reminded the board that the county board of supervisors previously returned roughly $1,035,000 to the school division for this purpose, and he said about $75,000 of that was used for fencing behind the elementary school, leaving the division some funding but not enough to cover all renovation options.

Board members discussed priorities and sequencing, including whether to do only the auditorium work now or to coordinate with a future comprehensive high‑school renovation. Several trustees said that fixing the roof and HVAC should be high priorities because they are needed regardless of the larger plan; others urged caution, noting that roofing work done now could be torn up later if a full renovation or replacement is pursued. Trustees and staff also discussed using remaining elementary project surplus or fiscal‑year 2025 carryforward funds to contribute to auditorium work, and the possibility that proceeds from a proposed 1% sales tax could increase flexibility.

Potts and the board agreed to continue planning and phasing discussions and to refine budgets and priorities before committing funds or bids. Potts said long lead times for some equipment remain a scheduling risk but did not identify any delay that would alter the next construction phase schedule.

The board did not take a final vote on the auditorium options at this meeting; members asked for further cost detail and for a broader assessment of the high school’s condition so the division and county can plan holistically for future capital needs.

A follow‑up will include more detailed cost splits and timing once the board identifies priorities and confirms how much of the available funding it wishes to apply to auditorium work now versus reserving for larger high‑school projects.