Photo by Jim Ridolphi
The Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standard Commission presented Sheriff Jim Agnew with a plaque honoring his department for it second year of accredidation from the state oversight agency. Sheriff Howard, a VLEPSC board member presented the award.

0 Comments

GES project exceeds $23 million

Goochland’s Board of Supervisors and School Board are still not on the same page regarding just how to address the county’s expanding student population.

For the past several years, enrollment figures have steadily increased, leaving some classrooms near or at capacity.

At last week board meeting, supervisors got their first look at exactly what these renovations could cost at one location, Goochland Elementary School.

Representatives from Moseley Engineering presented preliminary plans and cost estimates for consideration. An addition and renovation to the courthouse school would cost a little over $23 million.

The school board proceeded with the studies after a joint committee formed by the Board of Supervisors recommended improvements to all of Goochland’s three elementary schools.

But there was an obvious lack of communications between the two bodies, and that became evident as the discussion progressed at last week’s meeting.

“When we talked before, I was under the impression that what we conveyed was this board did not support building a brand new elementary school,” Eads said. “What we did support was the fact that we would have some incremental improvements to the three elementary schools,” Eads added.

He said the plan presented did not represent what he understood to be one of the options.

“What you’ve come back with here is entirely opposed to what we talked about the last time we met,” Eads continued. “I cant’ imagine this being feasible and something you would recommend that we would spend $23 million to make this type of addition at this location is impractical,” he added.

Eads said updated enrollment projections are needed to reflect the current economic state in the region. He noted building permits arte down 50 percent in Goochland County this year.

“Any projections you had as to what your capacity needs would be in the future based on facts prior to Jan. 1 of this year, in my opinion, are totally flawed,” Eads said.

Dr. Linda Underwood provided amended capacity estimates to the board after Eads made his comments.

School Board chairman Drew Meng urged action on the expansion issue. “Goochland County is in a state of change. How we provide for that change is critical,” he said. “As we move forward, we need to keep our school system moving forward as well,” Meng said. He advised against quick fixes and said the increasing enrollments are due to approved development in the county.

“If we spend $10 or $12 million dollars adding six classrooms, in three years, we’re going to be looking at another new school again,” he said. “We need to accommodate the growth and plan for it now, and I think it’s time we step up to the plate and face the facts of what needs to be done and not just talk about it anymore,” he added.

By Meng’s estimates, Goochland Elementary will over capacity in the fall of 2009.

Several citizens spoke in favor of the resolution to approve the $23 million, and made impassioned pleas to the board.

“There are grades and age groups that are over capacity now in the schools,” said Elizabeth Lyda-Nelson. “It’s not going to get any cheaper and it’s not going to get any better anytime soon,” she added.

School officials originally requested approximately $25 million to construct a new elementary school in the courthouse area. The Board of Supervisors opted to expand the three existing facilities.

Board chairman William Quarles suggested the two boards hold a joint meeting to address the immediate needs at Goochland elementary School. That motion did garner board support, and school board members requested that meeting be scheduled as soon as possible.

In other matters, a longstanding boundary dispute between Goochland and Louisa appears to be close to resolution, at least in spirit. County administrator Greg Wolfrey said the two localities held meetings recently to finally settle the controversey.

Basically, the line will be drawn according to where the dwellings in question pay taxes at the current time.

Jack Wright, a member of the Louisa Board of Supervisors, spoke briefly and offered his support for the proposal. He represents the district that adjoins Goochland County at the point in dispute.

He agreed with Wolfrey that the plan that affected the least amount of properties was the best route to pursue.

“We’ve been meeting for about two years now,” Wright said. “Right from the start, one of the basic premises we worked from was to disturb as few citizens and properties as we possibly could,” Wright said.

He said after 25 years of discussion, the time is right to resolve the matter.

”It’s been talked about for along time but we’re finally at the point of getting it done.”