School board work session unveils $30 million FY27 major-maintenance proposal and plans for two new elementary schools

Chesterfield County school staff on Feb. 3 laid out a fiscal year 2027 capital improvement plan that would direct roughly $30 million to major maintenance and advance construction plans for two new elementary schools.

At a budget work session, Dr. Watica presented the CIP overview and said the superintendent’s FY27 proposal includes a $30 million hybrid-funded major-maintenance program, with about $25.8 million targeted at mechanical systems, roofs, security and electrical upgrades. “The superintendent has proposed funding major maintenance at $30 million next year through a hybrid approach,” Dr. Watica said.

Why it matters: school officials said the spending is intended to extend the useful life of existing buildings, reduce the use of classroom trailers and address urgent mechanical and roofing needs identified in a facility condition assessment. The plan also includes construction projects described as priorities and mid-range items that still require property or funding decisions.

Key projects and timing: staff confirmed two new elementary schools identified with county partners: a Grange Hall replacement scheduled to open in August 2029 and a Dale Area Elementary School slated for August 2030, with the Dale project adding an estimated 150 pre-K seats and reducing about 60 trailer classrooms in the corridor. Dr. Watica said the Falling Creek Middle School phase 2 project — demolition of the existing swing-space building and construction of track/field and recreational facilities — is 100% designed with an approximate budget of $6 million.

Major-maintenance details: the staff presentation broke the projected $25.8 million into four primary buckets: HVAC and mechanical work (air-handling units, chiller replacements and phased HVAC upgrades at Hopkins Elementary, Moka Middle and Manchester High), roof replacements and phased repairs at sites such as Thomasdale West and Carver College, a second phase of ballistic/security film and camera replacements at listed sites, and electrical work that includes LED retrofits and targeted generator replacements and expansions at Moka High, Metobrook High and Swift Creek Middle.

Other items: the plan includes a pilot “capital uplifting” interior program to renovate one prototype building (Providence Elementary) for replication across similarly designed schools, a spring prioritization for parking-lot repairs, and replacement of aging alarm panels. Staff also described an ongoing bus-replacement partnership with the county and noted maintenance costs rise sharply after about year 12: average maintenance per bus moves from roughly $7–8 thousand per year to about $11–12 thousand per year; the FY26 budget included about $8.7 million for bus repairs.

Board questions and follow-ups: board members asked whether full roof replacements would include solar arrays, how the facility-condition ‘‘red/yellow/green’’ categories are being used, whether camera replacements indicate nonworking cameras or proactive upgrades, and whether shelter-capable generators at Metobrook and Cosby will be expanded to provide air conditioning during multi-day outages; staff committed to provide follow-up details and site-specific clarifications.

Next steps: staff said the facility condition assessment is expected to be complete by June and that specific project scoping and funding steps will follow; the board will consider the CIP and the superintendent’s recommended budget at upcoming meetings including a Feb. 10 business meeting with public hearings.