CIP committee seeks funding options as Princess Anne High timeline moves earlier

Virginia Beach ' A school-division special committee convened to examine the Capital Improvement Program told the School Board it has identified ways to reduce costs, explore debt classification for major maintenance and seek partnerships with city government and private entities as it looks for a faster path to replacing Princess Anne High School. Jack Freeman, the division's chief operations officer, told the board the committee has focused on three workstreams: increasing funding to the CIP, reducing cost through efficiencies and revising the long-range facility plan. "Virginia Beach City Public Schools in the city are having similar challenges with addressing the rising cost of maintenance and new construction in a level funding environment," Freeman said. Committee members presented a staged process of SWOT analysis and noted that construction time increases cost and that the division should review educational specifications for efficiencies. The group recommended greater partnership with the city to reclassify some major maintenance projects so they are better suited to debt financing and suggested using operating or reserve funds for smaller CIP items. The committee has already scheduled discussions with city leadership and staff: Freeman and staff said they will meet with the city manager and his budget team on July 15 and hold a joint afternoon session to align possible funding scenarios. The committee also plans a follow-up meeting on Aug. 11 and a school board workshop on Sept. 9, in advance of the next CIP cycle. Board members pressed for more detail and suggested tools that could shift timing: Vice Chair Weems and others asked staff to consider seat-time flexibility (students spending part of the day in work-based learning), which could reduce required seat counts; Miss Melnick and others suggested expanding local public'private partnerships and developer proffers; and Miss Felton and others urged early communication to the public about costs and tradeoffs. Freeman and Dr. Robertson told the board that earlier planning and community partnerships are the most promising paths to accelerate replacement timelines and lower costs. Freeman identified early options such as reducing nonessential projects in the CIP and seeking opportunities to package maintenance work to better fit the city's debt metrics. Staff also noted the committee is exploring the possibility of reusing or reallocating existing assets jointly with the city. Ending: The committee reported preliminary findings and next steps; it did not request formal board action at the retreat but will bring specific funding scenarios and recommendations to the board in September and seeks continued collaboration with the city's staff and council.