Winchester Public Schools operations staff reported a string of summer projects and early‑stage capital plans at the school board work session on Sept. 8, detailing completed work, costs and next steps.

Operations director (presenter identified in the transcript as Mr. Smith, operations staff) told the board the division replaced a playground at Virginia Avenue Elementary at a total cost of about $114,000 and installed a "spider tower" play structure costing about $37,000. He said the district installed security fencing behind the Virginia Avenue campus to prevent student access to an adjoining emergency access road; the fencing cost roughly $37,000.

Other completed work and costs noted by Mr. Smith included:
- John Kerr Elementary: four classrooms outfitted with early childhood and special education furniture, about $116,000; an early‑childhood playground opened at about $143,000.
- Frederick Douglass Elementary: a new sidewalk to provide wheelchair access to an adaptive swing.
- Melvin Rhodes (behind the Chiada Center): upgraded networked security cameras, about $22,000.
- Daniel Morgan area: field improvements including a scoreboard and sprinkler system; district staff are exploring a small concession stand with PTO participation but said water/sewer connections and logistics remain to be resolved.
- Melvin Rhodes/56 Gym area: conversion of a classroom into a wrestling room and removal/installation of mats; the district ordered about $14,400 worth of wrestling mats with installation planned in late October.

Mr. Smith said the district also completed a sidewalk replacement at Virginia Avenue to remove a trip hazard and has one additional capital‑improvement project on the fall list — concrete repairs at Hannibal (in the CIP for next year).

Early planning and future work
Mr. Smith described an early‑stage project to redesign the emergency‑vehicle area outside Hanley’s athletic field in partnership with the Garden Club of Virginia and the Hanley Trust; the Garden Club paid for a landscape architect to prepare conceptual drawings and the district has been gathering a topographical survey and coordinating stormwater work with Anoni Engineering. The district hopes to finalize construction drawings this fall and seeks to begin construction in spring after soliciting quotes, with an aim to finish by the following summer to coincide with football season. "We're gonna have bollards that will be installed that are easily removed with the lock and key," Mr. Smith said when asked how the plan would deter unauthorized parking.

The district also said it had initiated seating and carpeting planning for the Patsy Climb theater, including a laser measurement site visit, seat samples and a potential capital campaign led by the Winchester Education Foundation to assist funding; current seat count is approximately 1,280.

Accessibility and parking concerns
Board members raised concerns about accessible parking signage and wayfinding for visitors and visiting teams, noting limited accessible spaces behind the gym and suggesting signage, a map or ticket‑purchase messaging to inform visitors. The district said it will explore options with ticketing staff and marketing.

No formal board action was required for the reports; staff said most work is complete or in procurement and that they would return with specific bids or additional CIP requests as needed.