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Christiansburg High renovation: finance director says project can be closed with small remaining balance after managing change orders
Summary
Finance staff reviewed funding, early cost drivers and approved change orders for the Christiansburg High School renovation, reporting a remaining balance in the project fund but warning of pending change-order requests. Board members sought clearer communication about when interest funds were used to cover shortfalls.
Angie Bland, the division’s director of finance, delivered a detailed financial update on the Christiansburg High School renovation and additions project, summarizing funding sources, procurement history and change-order activity.
Bland said the project began with county advance funding for design, was later reimbursed from approved bond proceeds, and combined bond funds with ESSER and state construction contributions. She reported early costs for phase-zero construction items (administrative relocations and a temporary bus loop), required building permits and significant furniture and technology purchases. Bland noted that technology costs had risen 30–40 percent since the project began.
After reviewing multiple change orders — primarily for unforeseen site conditions (unsuitable soils, sanitary sewer repairs, abatement and limited structural changes) and owner direct purchases that reduced contractor contract value while preserving sales-tax savings — Bland summarized the project funding and expenses. In the presentation she showed a consolidated funding total of about $102,685,758 and said approved expenditures left a remaining balance around $539,184. She also flagged a pending change order request (approximately $942,789) that, if approved, would increase the cumulative change-order total to about $2.26 million.
Board members pressed for clarity on when the district decided to use bond interest funds and on reconciling slide totals. Dr. Gry and others asked why the project began to dip into interest and capital funds earlier than the board had expected. Bland said initial contingency had been reduced and some planned capital projects across the division required funds in fiscal year 2025; using available bond interest was the chosen path to cover the shortfall while preserving operations across other schools.
Trustees requested clearer, earlier notification in situations where multi‑year capital plans and contingency reallocation change the funding picture. Bland said the administration would continue to post change orders publicly and provide updates as the project moves toward completion.
Next steps: administration will monitor pending change-order reviews and return with financial updates; the board asked for improved reconciliation and more proactive communications when multi-year capital plans are revised.
