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Residents press board for audit and urge repairing old KQES, citing lower cost than new build
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Summary
During public comment, residents urged a public audit of district finances and recommended renovating the old King and Queen Elementary School; one speaker estimated repairs at $8–$16 million versus a projected new‑build cost exceeding $40 million.
Several residents used the meeting’s public‑comment period to press the school board on financial transparency and the future of the district’s elementary school buildings.
A public commenter (speaker 3) said documents obtained through a fiscal‑year request "show right now, to misuse and misappropriate funds" and asked the board for a meeting to address these concerns and ensure money goes to students and staff. The transcript records the allegation but does not include documentary evidence or a board response to that claim.
Later in public comment, Jeff Wilker of the Stevensville District (speaker 17) summarized an evaluation of the old King and Queen County Elementary School and urged repair over replacement. He said the repairs he recommended would cost "between 8 and $16,000,000," while a new building was "currently projected to cost in excess of 40,000,000." Wilker told the board he had discussed his findings with his board of supervisors member and encouraged residents to contact supervisors to keep the older elementary schools open.
The board did not record a formal response to those specific cost estimates or the allegation of fiscal misuse during the public‑comment period recorded in the transcript; the record notes a joint meeting with the board of supervisors scheduled for May 13 to discuss progress on the new elementary school.
Speakers quoted in this article are identified by the meeting transcript; claims described here were not corroborated in the transcript itself and require further verification.
