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Spotsylvania delays new school construction
Spotsylvania delays building new schools, citing lower student enrollment than projectedDate published: 11/25/2008 BY KAREN BOLIPATA The construction of several Spotsylvania County schools has been delayed, and officials are blaming declining student enrollment caused by home foreclosures in the area. A $24.86 million elementary school originally scheduled for 2011 is now set to open in 2015, according to a capital improvement plan presented at last night's School Board meeting. "Everybody needs to understand that we don't build things we don't need," said Vice Chairman Marty Wilder. The plan outlines construction projects from 2010 to 2014 totaling $298 million, using projected enrollment numbers. The school division saw its first drop in enrollment since 1974, educational facilities planner Scott Worner told the board. Overall, the school division's average daily membership is down 300 students. Elementary schools saw a drop of 163 students this year, a sign that foreclosures likely affected young families, Worner said. Spotsylvania's proximity to Northern Virginia and its commuter population may also be a factor, he added. Families who lost homes and those unwilling to commute amid fluctuating gas prices may have moved in with relatives in Northern Virginia. Additions to Ni River and Thornburg middle schools, originally scheduled for 2010, have been delayed until 2012. New elementary, high and middle schools have been delayed beyond the next four years. "We've seen sort of wild and rampant growth, and now we're seeing a little bit of a different picture," Wilder said. Chairman Gil Seaux said he'd like to see statewide enrollment numbers in December, when Gov. Tim Kaine releases his budget proposal. "We have been disciplined in how we approach this, because in everything we decide to do, there is a cost, and we understand that," Seaux said. Karen Bolipata: 540/374-5418
Date published: 11/25/2008
Stafford is thinking
(posted by
DeanFetterolf
, Nov. 25, 2008 4:53 pm)
Stafford School Board is thinking. School enrollment is slightly above projections for this year and predicted to be higher next year. HS #6 and the CTE facility have been delayed until at least 2016 and $60M in extensive renovations to 3 elementary schools have been delayed. Existing home sales in Stafford for the last 2 months are slightly above last year. Before you mention Heim the BOS approved this school along with a $36M Public Safety Building, $8.8M in fire stations, and a $35M courthouse.
NOT common sense
(posted by
volems4life
, Nov. 25, 2008 3:22 pm)
Don't mistake political spin for common sense. The total enrollment in Spotsy is over 23000, so a decrease of 300 represents only a 1% drop; hardly a meaningful statistic.
spotsy delays school building
(posted by
bucks
, Nov. 25, 2008 11:45 am)
Don't give spotsy officials too much credit. They should have exercised restraint during those few years when all of the false inflated prices of the cookie cutter subdivision homes built by greedy builders,developers,and contractors were sanctioned by these supervisors and other county officias who didn't remember that they work for us. The rose colored glasses have now been torn off and they can see the gray drawn faces of us the taxpayers. Change?? We need it. Vote em out
STAFFORD TAKE NOTE
(posted by
USA2007
, Nov. 25, 2008 9:15 am)
Spotsy School Board using some COMMON SENSE- and admits enrollments are dropping- and that home sales are down so the Students arent there. WOW Stafford School Board why cant you think like this. "........we dont build things we dont need"
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