Delta blues

 Man plans, God laughs.

For most of the 21^st century replacing the current Goochland Elementary School has been on the “to do” list for our school division. The great recession pushed this task, after a good deal of money was spent on attempt to renovate the existing school or design a new one to the back burner.

When the “new broom” school board swept into office in 2011, replacing GES was on its radar screen, but far down the priority list as it dealt with more pressing issues.

Meanwhile as the county, which funds schools, grappled with the fiscal threat posed by the Tuckahoe Creek Service District debt, which could have bankrupted Goochland, debt threshold policies were established.

At least two years ago, when the economy and county finances were on sounder footing, the new GES project finally got underway. Using land already owned by the school division, on the west side of Bulldog Way near its intersection with Steeplechase Parkway, a design for the school began to take shape. This is part of the 104-acre parcel purchased by the school division in 1998 for $450,000.

Schools of tomorrow—the new GES is expected to serve the community for decades—are a far cry from the schools of yesteryear where students sat in neat rows listening to teachers at the front of the room.

An initial design, crafted with input from the community and students was lovely. It followed the hilly contours of the site and had lots of windows. It was also very expensive. When cost estimates on that version came in, the supervisors suggested that schools go back to the drawing board for a lower cost alternative. The result was a simpler structure comprised of two rectangles. (See https://www.goochlandschools.org/page/new-ges-construction-project for details.) The capacity of the new school will be 700 students, 650 k-5 and 50 pre k. It is expected to open at the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Attendance boundary adjustments will pull students from both Byrd and Randolph, removing trailers from those schools.

A cost that remained constant through design changes was work needed to prepare the site for construction, including extension of utilities. Schools contended that other potential locations for the new school had been considered but were rejected.

As of last summer, the schools spent $3,026,200 million on design and other preliminaries for GES, but actual costs remained a best guesstimate.  Plans were put out to bid earlier this year and opened on November 17.

One of the many things that sets Goochland County apart from other jurisdictions in Virginia is the cordial, collaborative relations between the supervisors and school board that followed the clean sweep election. Both elected bodies recognized that working in concert, instead of at cross purposes, benefits the community on many levels.

The support of the supervisors helped our schools attain new heights of achievement to enrich our students. However, as clouds darken on the fiscal horizon, this relationship could be strained. At a joint workshop held on November 29, schools presented results of the bids, which are good for 60 days, to the supervisors and discussed funding for the project.

Thanks to inflation, supply chain issues, and labor shortages, the total project cost using the lowest bid, is $56,075.904, 31.5 percent above the November 2021 estimate. Adding in interior secondary complex renovations, including fine arts spaces and reducing funding for CTE additions, brings the total to $65,833.680. This number does not include funding for an auxiliary gym and wrestling room and $17.9 million for the CTE addition that were part of initial estimates. It also removes approximately $500 k for a playground.

Last year, Goochland voters approved via referendum issuance of up to $60 million in bonds for education capital expenses and up to $36 million for public safety capital projects. In February, the county sold $50 million in bonds—$41.8 for schools, the remainder for a new fire-rescue station— before rates went up. The county did not issue the entire $96 million, because bond proceeds must be used in certain time frame.

It is unclear if proceeds from the $50 million issue were earmarked for either schools or public safety.

Schools sharpened pencils and presented a funding strategy to the supervisors using bond proceeds; interest on those proceeds which is accruing at about $100k monthly; a $5 million bond premium; cash proffers; and cash from a prior capital improvement plan turnback with a delta—difference between money needed and available—of $ 8,442,224.

Goochland, said Schools’ Finance Director Debbie White, does not qualify state education construction money, because we are “too well managed.”

The supervisors, who take their role as stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously, discussed where the delta might come from.

Bond guru Ken Peterson District 5 said that given current high interest rates, there would be little interest in a small county bond issue. Other options to find the delta were discussed. Timing of financing, the project will be paid for in increments, the last coming after the end of construction in 2025, was also discussed. The county audit committee will meet on December 6, this matter will undoubtedly be on its agenda.

There are a lot of moving pieces to this issue. Postponing construction could result in even higher bids. Should the new GES not open in 2024, school board members contended, the old building would need some costly upgrades to welcome students.

The school board met right after the workshop. It began with a moment of silence in honor the service of former district 5 school board member Max Cisne, who passed away on November 19.

After discussion, the school board voted to approve a letter to the supervisors requesting the funding delta. 

 Watch the November 29 joint workshop at https://goochlandva.new.swagit.com/videos/190264 and school board meeting at https://goochlandschools.new.swagit.com/videos/190291.