Charles City school capital plan close to $10 million

Charles City school officials have unveiled a list of 16 capital improvement projects totaling almost $10 million and spread over the next three years.

County School board members opted during their Dec. 15 meeting to pass along the proposed schedule for scrutiny by county Planning Commission members. How many of the projects come to fruition and when depends on funding availability, and Charles City, like other state school systems, faces a less than rosy budget picture for the next fiscal year (2010-11).

Five projects, totaling close to $2.3 million, are placed for now in the next fiscal year. Topping the list are replacing hallway carpeting with tile in school buildings ($134,000), repairing walkways ($103,000), and paving work behind the high school ($190,000). Also penciled in for next year are a $1.4 million project to build a new School Board office and $403,000 for a gymnasium at the elementary school.

Four projects slated for now in 2011-12 include a $1.6 million classroom/laboratory expansion at the elementary school, $81,000 for an elementary school multipurpose room, an $81,000 redesign of the high school and middle school offices, and $4 million for a middle school gym.

Long-range projects, placed for now in 2012-13, include tennis courts priced at $73,000 and a half-dozen items pegged for the high school: football practice field ($300,000), athletics field house ($1.1 million), outdoor basketball court ($82,000), baseball/softball dugouts ($201,000), additional gym seating ($65,000), and modifying the gym foyer ($81,000).

In a budget-related matter, the board approved a schedule for working on its 2010-11 budget. The board is hosting a pre-budget public hearing on Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the middle school library. A draft budget is to be in School Board members’ hands on Jan. 28. Work sessions, which are open to the public for input, are scheduled for Feb. 4 and 18 at 6 p.m., also in the middle school library.

A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for Feb. 25 with adoption tentatively set for March 1. Later that month, school officials are to present the adopted budget to the county’s Board of Supervisors. Supervisors plan to hold a public hearing on the county’s overall budget on April 15 and take final action on April 27.

Also at the Dec. 15 meeting, School Board members learned that steps taken to address swine (H1N1) flu in schools apparently have kept outbreaks under control.

“Attendance has been stable since mid-November, and we really believe the prevention practices we put in place have contributed to our students’ health,” said Tina Smith, the schools’ special education director who has been overseeing efforts to combat the virus.

Smith told the board the schools’ final H1N1 vaccination clinic, held Dec. 14 at the middle and high schools, attracted 92 students and staff.

She said a daily routine to disinfect school buses also contributed to lessening the virus’ impact.

She added that school officials are bracing for what could be another virus wave as the holidays end and students and staff return to schools.

Holiday travel out of the county and visits by relatives and friends from outside of Charles City could result in spreading the disease, she added.

“There could be another surge in January,” she said, “but I think we’re prepared for it.”