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Shenandoah County school board debates using $5.455M carryforward for A&E and HVAC upgrades
Summary
Board members discussed allocating a $5,455,449 FY2025 carryforward, weighing funding architectural and engineering (A&E) work for three elementary renovations and a new elementary site against urgent HVAC replacements; staff set an April 9 vote to finalize the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
Shenandoah County School Board members on March 23 debated how to spend a $5,455,449 operational carryforward from fiscal year 2025, focusing on whether to fund architectural and engineering (A&E) work for multiple prioritized projects or to reserve money for urgent HVAC replacements and other immediate needs.
During a presentation, staff summarized estimated project costs and A&E fees for prioritized work: Ashby Lee Elementary (estimated construction $7.86 million; A&E ~ $400,000), Sandy Hook (about $7.7 million; A&E ~$350,000), W.W. Robinson, a proposed new elementary near Tomsbrook/Maritown, Career & Technical Education work and limited Triplette renovation. Staff said the total A&E estimate through construction administration would be about $5.7 million and that the division’s prioritized renovation projects alone require roughly $2.2 million in A&E to get to bid-ready documents.
Board members questioned whether the school division should spend its entire carryforward on A&E to be “shovel-ready” for grants or limit A&E spending to projects the Board of Supervisors has signaled it would fund. Staff reported hearing the Board of Supervisors express support for the three elementary renovations and the Triplette minimal expansion, but not a clear consensus on the new Woodstock-area elementary; supervisors’ commitment to funding was described as unclear and possibly partial.
Members also pressed on the district’s facility needs. Staff and board members cited HVAC systems that fail to remove moisture—creating mildew risks—and a cited estimate of roughly $13.5 million to replace HVAC equipment across elementary buildings. Several members suggested allocating any remaining carryforward funds toward HVAC upgrades after funding A&E for the renovation projects most likely to be supported by supervisors.
Staff outlined the next steps: the school board will make a formal recommendation to the Board of Supervisors at its April 9 meeting, and members said they would prioritize projects supervisors are prepared to fund now while reserving discussion about A&E for additional projects until county funding is certain.
The board did not take final action on the carryforward at the March 23 work session; members agreed to return to the matter at the April 9 meeting once the Board of Supervisors’ decision is clearer.
