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Parents and teachers urge new Westside Elementary as board issues architectural RFP
Summary
Multiple Westside Elementary parents and teachers told the Isle of Wight County School Board the nearly 100-year-old building is unsafe and unsanitary, pressing the board to build a replacement; staff announced an RFP for design services for a new pre-K–5 school with proposals due Dec. 10.
Members of the Westside Elementary community urged the Isle of Wight County School Board on Nov. 13 to replace the aging school rather than continue temporary repairs.
Lee Hanley, president of the Westside Elementary PTA, told the board the nearly 100-year-old building has persistent leaks, a rodent problem and other failures that “make it a constant uphill battle” for staff to provide a safe learning environment. “Our PTA’s mission is to strengthen the bridge between home, school, and community,” Hanley said, asking the board to invest in a new Westside Elementary.
Several Westside teachers echoed that assessment. Sixth-grade teacher Jennifer McCafferty cited ongoing sewage odor, ceiling leaks that force staff to place trash cans in classrooms, recurring mold concerns and HVAC failures. “This building has outlived its purpose,” she said, urging a full replacement instead of further renovations. Teacher Amy Hurst described blocked restrooms when it rains, unstable exterior ramp boards and classrooms that are overcrowded and poorly ventilated.
Board staff announced that the division formally released a request for proposals for architectural and engineering services to design a new Westside Elementary. According to staff, the RFP posted Nov. 10 on the Commonwealth’s procurement site (EVA) seeks design for a pre-K–5 elementary sized for approximately 1,000 students, with proposals due Dec. 10. The procurement posting automatically notified dozens of vendors, and staff said they expect to interview the top-ranked firms and return a recommendation to the board early next year.
School finance and operations briefings at the meeting placed the RFP in the broader context of facilities work and budget planning. The finance director said the division is conducting a ‘zero-based’ budget process for FY27; staff later noted that Westside roof and restroom repairs had begun while planning continues for longer-term replacement.
The board did not vote on construction funding at the Nov. 13 meeting; staff and the board discussed next steps for vendor evaluation, negotiation and a likely January award. Several public speakers asked the board to clarify where students and staff would be relocated while a replacement project proceeds and to provide more detail on timeline and funding sources.
What happens next: the RFP response window closes Dec. 10; staff will evaluate proposals, interview finalists, negotiate scope and cost, and return a recommendation to the board for approval in the new year.
