FCPS Proposes Moving Up Schedule of Renovations

Good news for Fairfax County Public Schools that are on the schedule for renovation in the next few years.

Lower construction costs and a surplus of savings from the closing of two FCPS schools means the school system is proposing accelerating the schedule of renovations as part of its Fiscal Year 2012-16 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

FCPS has been able to save more than $31 million over the last three years, Dean Tistadt, FCPS chief operating officer for facilities and services, said Thursday. Assuming the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is able to allocate the same $155 million annually towards capital improvements, then projects can be completed one to three years earlier than scheduled, he said.

The FY 2012-16 CIP includes new schools, additions and renovations over five years at a cost of $804.9 million. Nearly $200 million has already been funded with approved school bonds. Completion of projects on the schedule will require a school bond referendum in 2011.

Tistadt is scheduled to present the capital improvements proposal to the school board Thursday night. After public hearings, discussion and votes, the referendum could be on the ballot in the fall.

"The two main drivers of this CIP are continued enrollment growth and favorable market conditions that are keeping construction costs down." said Tistadt.

As additional argument for accelerating changes: to keep up with growing school enrollment. Student population has grown by 11,000 since 2006, and this year's kindergarten projections were 500 higher than projected, said Tistadt.

"That speaks to future enrollment growth being sustained for the forseeable future," he said. The system is expected to have 185,000 students in 2015-16. Current enrollment is 174,635.

Two FCPS facilities recently closed or are set to close - Pimmit Hills Alternative School and Clifton Elementary School. The county is currently constructing a new elementary school at the Lacey site in Annandale (completion set for 2012), and the new South County Middle School (2012).

Renovations are currently underway at Edison HS, Longfellow MS, Stenwood ES, Westlawn ES, Beech Tree ES, Franconia ES, Graham Road ES, Oakton ES and Lake Anne ES. Marshall High will begin renovations in 2011.

See chart below for schools affected by the 2012-16 acceleration.

Tistadt said an important part of renovations will include environmental stewardship - including cool roofs; the county's first geothermal system at the new Lacey Elementary site; efficient lighting; and the use of natural lighting.

Elizabeth English, principal at Sunrise Valley Elementary School - one of the schools on the list for accelerated renovation - is happy about the natural lighting, among other items.

Sunrise Valley opened in 1979, and was built in an "open classroom" design. It has since turned into a more traditional-style school - but one with mainly temporary walls,  one actual door and a "temporary" classroom building that is still in place 30 years later.

"When I started as principal here eight years ago, we only had six windows out of 21 classrooms," she said as she showed visitors some of Sunrise Valley's renovation needs. "We have a large special education population and only few doors, walls and windows. The noise level is high. When we have a lockdown, we are unable to really secure the building.

"The fifth and sixth graders are in the annex, the temporary structure that is separate from the building," she added. "After the facility is [renovated] it should be able to accomodate all of our students and we'll all be unde rone roof."

Another Reston school on the list is Terraset Elementary, which is built into the ground. If the money is there, Terraset and its similar school, Terra Centre in Burke, may get additions that renovate them into more traditional schools.

"Terraset and Terra Centre are particularly challenging projects for us," said Tistadt. "Buy bringing them up out of the ground is a real possibility."

                                             FCPS Renovation Timing Changes