Board advances $33 million plan to renovate Altavista Combined School

Michael Michie, lead project manager for RRMM architects, told the Campbell County School Board that a feasibility study for Altavista Combined School recommends nearly full replacement of the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and a suite of renovations and limited additions that together point to a $33 million guaranteed maximum price target. "A total project budget, 33 million," Michie said during the presentation.

The study, which the firm prepared after two to three months of site review and stakeholder programming, sets the campus capacity at roughly 600 students (about 330 high school and 270 middle school) and sizes the building at approximately 155,000 square feet. Michie said the largest single cost category is MEP work — estimated at $25–26 million — and that a combination of soft costs, contingency and escalation puts the GMP target near $33 million. He said construction timing is being targeted for early to mid 2027.

Board members pressed Michie on what would be new versus renovated. Michie described two new additions — a more prominent secured front entrance and a gym infill to connect two gym spaces — while most interior areas shown in the study would be fully gutted and modernized. The study also identifies school-security upgrades, expanded counseling and administration space, a materials and processing CTE lab and a new flex lab for career and technical education. Several items (canopies, additional exterior work, full building sprinklers) were listed as alternates outside the base GMP.

Michie laid out order-of-magnitude costs as ranges to reflect uncertainties at the feasibility stage. He listed hard construction at about $30.5–32 million, then added soft costs and contingencies to reach a target GMP range near $33–34.5 million. Michie noted allowances for owner-carried items — for example, asbestos design and abatement were listed as an allowance and he gave an illustrative figure of about $300,000 pending further testing — and suggested CTE equipment and loose furniture allowances could be substantial depending on final program choices.

Dr. Stanley asked the board to "consider blessing this project moving forward to our supervisors for financing and the procurement of the project," and, after brief discussion about priorities and the urgency of addressing HVAC/humidity problems, a board member moved to proceed. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally or the name of the member who moved the motion.

What it means: Advancing the feasibility study to the Board of Supervisors initiates financing and procurement steps the county will need to take to secure a designer/contractor and finalize a GMP. Michie and district staff emphasized next steps including additional hazardous-material testing, more detailed plumbing and sewer scoping, and civil/utility surveys before final pricing.

Funding and schedule: Michie and Dr. Stanley told the board the county is planning to borrow approximately $35 million for the project; the school division would pursue school construction grants to supplement the program. The team recommended pursuing summer 2027 work windows to minimize student disruption.

Board reaction and constraints: Members repeatedly cited HVAC failures and humidity-related deterioration as driving needs and urged the project move forward quickly, but also cautioned that prioritization will be required — "we won't be able to do everything," one board member said. Several alternates were identified so the board can preserve options if bids come in above target.

Next steps: The board advanced the project to the Board of Supervisors for financing and procurement and requested additional testing and the final study report, which the architect said would be distributed to board members this week.