Classroom trailers are here to stay
New capital improvement plan falls far short of alleviating overcrowding at schools
By Donna C. Gregory NEWS EDITOR

Page Dowdy/Chesterfield Observer Construction crews are currently clearing land on Genito Road to build a replacement for Clover Hill High School. The new school is expected to open to students in fall 2010. It's still unknown how the current Clover Hill school on Hull Street Road will be utilized after the new high school opens.

According to the latest enrollment projections, the county will need six new schools by 2014 to relieve crowded classrooms, but there's only funding for one and partial funding for another.

That was the news school board members received last month when they were presented with the proposed Capital Improvement Program for 2009-14.

"At the current pace we're going, we will never have enough money available to keep pace and get rid of the trailers," responded Chairman Tom Doland, after hearing the report. "It's not a matter of not knowing [where new schools will be needed] - it's lack of money."

Funding is impacted partly because the county can only take on a certain amount of debt without jeopardizing its AAA bond rating.

There's also been a significant reduction in proffers collected on new homes in recent years. In FY04, developers paid proffers on 1,556 lots. By FY07, that number slipped to 685 due to a slowdown in the housing market.

Though school funding is over one-half of the county budget, school officials say the lack of funding combined with the addition of about 1,000 new students each year means the school system is unable to keep up with the demand for building new schools.

Midlothian District representative Jim Schroeder, who leaves the school board at the end of the year after not seeking re-election, urged returning board members to act on alternatives to building new schools despite predicted public outcry. "We're not going to get a popularity vote," he admitted.

During previous meetings, school board members have discussed the ideas of enacting year-round school and offering more online classes and later shifts - particularly at the high school level. Last February, Bermuda District representative Marshall Trammell Jr. asked administrators to explore the possibility of offering a later shift at Thomas Dale High School as a pilot program. Thomas Dale is the second most overcrowded high school in the county, operating at 27 percent overcapacity. Meadowbrook High School is the most cramped at 28 percent over capacity.

"We continue to review the potential to extend the school day at Thomas Dale as a pilot for other schools. As you can imagine, there are many different issues that arise related to busing, teacher day length and class scheduling that need to be considered," said Dale District representative David Wyman.

"With the school board's discussion of alternative schedules, staff is preparing an online survey of teachers and students to gauge their support of various options to relieve overcrowding," said Debra Marlow, the school system's director of community relations.

"Additionally, some students in the Thomas Dale attendance zone will be reassigned to Matoaca High School. This change is being made using the provision of school board policy which allows 'spot' boundary changes involving the community and school board member from the district," continued Marlow. "If the change occurs, it would begin fall 2008 and would not include juniors or seniors."

Matoaca is 3 percent over its capacity.

The spot redistricting would impact 175- 200 students over the next 3-4 years.

The latest capital improvement plan includes full funding for one elementary school and partial funding for one high school.

At the high school level, enrollment predictions indicate the need for new high schools by 2014 to relieve overcrowding in the central area of the county, which includes Thomas Dale, L.C. Bird and Meadowbrook high schools, and in the Route 360 West area where Cosby High School just opened last year. New households at Magnolia Green, Harper's Mill and several other developments in the Route 360 corridor are expected to cause overcrowding at Cosby in coming years.

Partial funding has been earmarked in 2014 to build a new high school in the central area. Additional funding will be needed the following year for that school.

No funding is currently included in the capital improvement plan for another high school in the Route 360 corridor.

Nothing has been decided on how the current Clover Hill High School building on Hull Street Road will be used after a replacement high school opens on Genito Road in fall 2010.

Offering more online classes at the high school level is one way board members are considering addressing crowded classrooms.

"I have been working with the other board members to identify avenues to expand the online learning capabilities that we possess in the county. I believe this will hold great promise," said Wyman. "It is my hope that we will convene a summit in the spring to address the possibilities of expanding online learning as well as fully address the capacity needs of the school system."

Discussions are also underway to address capacity issues at the Chesterfield Technical Center.

"We are reviewing a proposal to extend courses at the tech center later into the afternoon to make further use of the facilities there and fill the demand for these courses," said Wyman.

At the elementary level, funding has been earmarked in the capital improvement plan to build one new school, although the location of that school is still in question. According to enrollment projections, four geographic areas will need a new elementary school to relieve overcrowding by 2014. They include the Dale area (Hopkins, Hening and Chalkley elementary schools), the Route 360 West area (Woolridge, Grange Hall and Winterpock), the northwestern area (Watkins, Weaver, Swift Creek and Evergreen) and the southern area (Harrowgate, Wells and Gates).

Winterpock Elementary School is currently under construction and is expected to open after the first of the year. Projections show, however, that Winterpock is a temporary fix as more new homes are built in the Route 360 corridor.

"We need four [new elementary schools], and we only have [funding for] one," Kathy Kitchen, assistant superintendent for business and finance, said simply while briefing board members on the need to build more schools.

The capital improvement plan also calls for renovations and additions at several schools. In FY09, $5.5 million is earmarked for an addition at Bellwood Elementary, $6.5 million for Falling Creek Middle, $1 million for Salem Church Middle and $1 million for Midlothian High. In FY10, additions are planned at Gates Elementary ($3.5 million), Midlothian Middle ($8 million), Robious Middle ($6.5 million), Salem Church Middle ($8 million) and Swift Creek Middle ($5.25 million).

More additions and renovations are planned through 2014.

An annual line item of $2 million is included in the plan to make improvements at the county's aging schools. As of next fall, 14 of the county's then 64 schools will be more than 40 years old. Another 26 will be between 20-40 years old. A recent critical needs assessment revealed that nearly $20 million in major maintenance is needed at county schools.

The school board is currently soliciting input on the proposed capital improvement plan via e-mail and regular mail. The complete plan is available for viewing at www.chester field.k12.va.us by clicking on the link for the "proposed capital improvement program."

The school board is expected to vote on the plan at its Dec. 11 meeting.