Board reviews $32 million draft five‑year capital plan; staff recommends work session to set priorities

The Colonial Heights School Board reviewed a draft five‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) at its Nov. 19 meeting that lists roughly $32 million in maintenance and capital projects for school facilities. Board and staff agreed to seek a short work session so board members can prioritize projects before the district finalizes the plan and transmits it to the city for inclusion in municipal planning.

Troy (administration) told the board the draft captures large capital projects, major maintenance and other work that may require district reserves, shared funding with the city or debt issuance. The draft lists about $32,000,000 in projects; roughly 35% (about $11,000,000) is currently funded and about 65% (nearly $21,000,000) is not funded at this time. The document also shows outstanding district debt of about $7,600,000 with annual payments near $700,000, which affects borrowing capacity.

Projects on the draft include: high school front entrance/admin and fine‑arts work (substantially complete), a proposed high‑school student commons and dining renovation and food‑service upgrades, Lakeview expansion, upgrades to football stadium lighting and a turf/track replacement, North Elementary music and art room renovation, Colonial Heights High School auxiliary gym, and repairs to tennis and pickleball courts. New entries include a tech building HVAC replacement (reported as fully funded and in contract procurement), a cell‑phone signal booster project (phase 1 at high school and testing sites), and resurfacing and crack repair for tennis courts and pickleball courts.

Board members raised timing concerns because a potential new high‑school feasibility study or future new‑school planning could change priorities. One member noted that installing an expensive turf field at the existing high‑school site could be less useful if a new high school is built in coming years. Staff said the CIP will include a prioritized list to guide conversations with the city manager, planning commission and city council; the board asked staff to present final priorities in January so the city can consider them during its February retreat.

Cost estimates discussed in the meeting included roughly $2.7 million for a turf field and track package and an $870,000 estimate for the tech building HVAC after value engineering; a recent bid for major HVAC pieces was about $475,000. Board members asked staff to present scenario planning (including the effect of a future new high school) at a work session and to refine timing and cost assumptions before the board approves the plan for the city.

The board did not take a final vote on the draft; staff will return in January with a revised document and requested priorities for transmission to the city by Feb. 1, per the administrative timeline.