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School board hears bond‑funded rebuilds, new schools and a living‑building pilot
Summary
The board received an August 28 update on major capital projects from the 2016 and 2022 bond referendums: rebuilds and additions at Virginia Randolph, Davis and Longan elementaries, a Verona High 'Living Building' design, a Quiocassen Middle School rebuild, and a new Fairfield Area Elementary; staff were asked to prepare boundary and public‑input options.
Henrico County School Board members on Aug. 28 were briefed on major capital projects funded through prior bond referendums, including rebuilds, renovations and new construction that staff said are intended to address capacity and modernize school facilities.
Susan Moore, HCPS director of facilities, reviewed project status and timelines. Highlights included Jacob L. Adams Elementary (small entry addition and visitor reorientation; completion expected in 2026), the Virginia Randolph campus rebuild and ACE Building renovation (Historic Building B renovation to complete by the end of the calendar year, hard hat tour Sept. 4, ribbon cutting planned Jan. 2026) and the Jackson Davis Elementary rebuild (increasing capacity from about 500 to 750; building work slated to finish in 2026).
Moore described the Longan Elementary rebuild as a sister school prototype to Davis, also scheduled for 2026 completion, and a 15,000‑square‑foot Living Building project at Verona High to support the Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability that the district expects to construct in accordance with Living Building Challenge materials and certifications. Moore said the Verona project will begin site work this fall with a planned 2026 completion and a groundbreaking later in September.
Other projects include the three‑story Quiocassen Middle School rebuild (about 179,000 sq ft; capacity ~1,350; bidding underway with anticipated construction start in late fall and an opening in 2027), renovations at Charles M. Johnson Elementary, a new Fairfield Area Elementary on a 23‑acre site due to open about 2029 with capacity for roughly 700–800 students, and planning steps for a Highland Springs Elementary rebuild with design funding expected in fiscal 2027.
Board members and the chair emphasized that the board retains responsibility for establishing attendance zones for new schools and for boundary adjustments. Chair Shea asked staff to prepare potential boundary and programmatic options that would use new capacity at Longan, Jackson Davis and the Quiocassen project to address current capacity concerns, and asked that the district publish a public‑input timeline and hold in‑person and online comment opportunities this fall.
No boundary decisions were made at the work session; staff committed to return with scenario options and a proposed community input schedule for the board’s fall agenda.
