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Culpeper County school committee reviews capital projects, $11.2M spent and recent bus purchases
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Summary
At its Dec. 17, 2025 meeting the Culpeper County School Board Capital Planning Committee received maintenance and project updates, learned the division has spent $11.2 million year-to-date on capital projects, and was told four electric and five diesel buses were received this year.
The Culpeper County School Board’s Capital Planning Committee met at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2025, to review maintenance and capital project work and receive a financial update on the capital improvement plan. Committee Chair Deborah Desilets called the meeting to order and members Elizabeth Hutchins and Betsy Smith were recorded as present.
Maintenance staff reported accessibility repairs — including sidewalks and curb work at Farmington, Pearl Sample and A.G. Richardson — were postponed from Thanksgiving to the Christmas break to limit dust exposure. Staff said a CMS chiller is receiving its scheduled seven‑year service, a new jetter has been purchased for sewer-line maintenance, turf blankets have been installed at specified locations, exterior fire lines at CTEC were repaired and heat tape installed to address freeze issues. Mr. Robson fielded questions from the committee about those items.
Mr. Robson and Dr. O’Brien provided updates on several construction and site projects. At Mountain Run Elementary, fence work is complete, livestock have been removed and silt fencing and test holes have been completed; the superintendent was reported to be on site daily. Committee members raised traffic‑safety concerns at Mountain Run; staff said VDOT did not support installing a traffic signal, that an R‑cut would encroach on soccer fields and that a roundabout could delay the building process. As an interim measure the committee discussed using a deputy to direct traffic and agreed to reassess the approach if nearby development triggers additional traffic improvements.
At CMS the next phase of classroom relocations was under way, with the gym entrance designated as the main entrance beginning Jan. 5. Masons were constructing second‑floor CMU walls in the academic wing and steel delivery was anticipated in January; classroom moves were completed before the break. Flooring‑conversion projects to LVT at Sycamore and Farmington have quotes, color choices and materials ordered for installation at the end of the 2025–26 school year. Planned projects in planning, engineering or bidding stages include a well and irrigation system for the CCHS practice field, additional parking at Pearl Sample and HVAC upgrade engineering at Emerald Hill.
In the CIP review, Mr. Deane reported $11.2 million spent year‑to‑date — primarily on work at CMS and Mountain Run Elementary — and said $1.6 million has been invested in electric buses this year. He listed tax credits of $40,000 per bus, noted as $160,000 total to be filed once finalized. The division has taken delivery of four electric buses and five diesel buses during the year. Mr. Deane said completed projects paid in full include the Emerald Hill flooring and roof projects at FTBMS and A.G. Richardson. Life‑to‑date spending was reported as $9.7 million at CMS and $5.9 million at Mountain Run (including $3.5 million for land acquisition) within an original $42 million budget; some budget transfers between CMS and Mountain Run may be required but funds were described as sufficient.
Looking ahead, Mr. Deane said $5.2 million is planned for FY27 expenditures with an additional $1.2 million allocated for the Simms Drive project, though final costs remain uncertain. Dr. Brads said the Board of Supervisors addressed Simms Drive in closed session and directed staff and the county attorney to pursue one of two options with Spark to acquire the remaining 5.9 acres; no final acquisition had been reported.
On security infrastructure, Ms. Desilets asked specifically about two movable security gates for sporting events. Mr. Deane said the project is funded through a state matching grant with the division contributing 20 percent ($50,000) and the state providing $200,000; delivery was anticipated in mid‑January.
The meeting concluded with the scheduling note and a motion to adjourn at 9:17 a.m. The minutes note motions to adopt the agenda, approve the Oct. 15 minutes and to adjourn. The minutes were prepared by Sara Morand and include an approval note indicating the minutes were approved at the Capital Planning Committee meeting on Jan. 21, 2026.