Attention turning from Historic School to new elementary

New Kent Board of Supervisors’ progress on the budget is like a cliffhanger: To be continued.

And after viewing cost figures on elementary school construction, supervisors are now studying the prospect of building a new elementary school instead of renovating the county’s Historic School for elementary grades 4-5. If the board reverses direction, renovating the Historic School to accommodate the county’s school board offices and Heritage Public Library could come back into play.

The new cost information provided to supervisors on Tuesday could affect the four-cent tax increase built into next year’s proposed budget. Supervisors had been planning to designate two cents to the Historic School project.

While the matter began with discussions in closed session, county administrator Rodney Hathaway explained afterward a bit of the dilemma that the board may face. Documentation provided to the Chronicle showed a list of new elementary schools constructed in Virginia over the past two years.

“The costs of these schools are a little bit higher than what we’re paying on renovations to the old Historic School, but they are double in capacity, total area, and are brand new,” the county administrator said. “It is something the board plans to take a good look at.”

Hathaway said $8.5 million has been designated for the 40,000 square-foot Historic School project. Completion of the school is currently targeted for fall of 2015.

By contrast, a new elementary school under construction in Louisa County will total almost 86,000 square feet with a capacity of 792 students. Total cost for that project is $11.2 million.

Because supervisors did not take any action, a Wednesday meeting for the school board to approve its final budget has been postponed. Schools may take action after the conclusion of the supervisors’ work session provided an adopted budget is agreed upon.

New Kent schools, meanwhile, are slated to receive an additional $75,000, upping the total of extra money to $775,000.

In other business, supervisors discussed more budget aspects including employee pay raises and money for Heritage Library.

District 3 representative James Burrell asked if funds can be allocated to help the county’s lower wage employees receive a larger raise. While it was doable, county attorney Michele Gowdy advised members that such a raise may be subject to a discrimination lawsuit.

She also commented that if a certain dollar amount was advocated, it would be considered as a bonus and not a cost of living increase, which is subject to a public hearing. It was agreed that talks would continue to see if $225,376 could be allocated equally among employees. Constitutional officers and social services employees are not included in the raise.

District 1 representative Thomas Evelyn asked about the library receiving an additional $20,000 in the budget. Hathaway said that money would help the library on its rent.

“Our funds are starting to catch up with us and we are looking into our essential programs funds to pay for our lease,” said Kathy Wills who handles the library’s finances. “Originally, our lease was for three years and we had to extend it. The increase in our services and expansion of the library to accommodate residents is why the cost has risen.”

Hathaway presented information showing that the lease has increased from $15,020 in 2008 to $45,948 in 2013. The latter figure will also increase by three percent during each of the next two years.

Expansion of the library has totaled 4,500 square feet due to the addition of young adult rooms, an audio room, and a children’s story time room, all things Wills says are needed to run the library efficiently.