Abby Whitt
Contributing writer
Montgomery County Public School Board and the county’s Board of Supervisors held a special joint meeting June 30 to discuss capital projects, their projected costs, timelines and how the county’s finances play a role.
Superintendent Bernard Bragen, Jr. started his presentation by showing the boards photos of completed construction at Christiansburg schools and a generated fly-through of the high school’s renovations that can be found online at https://youtu.be/ZpDfHGfnmT8?si=9isOkMgICun3_Nea.
Renovations for Harding Avenue, Gilbert Linkous and Margaret Beeks elementary schools were classified at Phase 1 in Bragen’s presentation, and each were presented with a low and high estimated cost range, and two options for improvements (capital and comprehensive).
Phase 2 included renovations and possible additions at Shawsville Middle School and renovations at Montgomery Central.
Bragen said officials do not anticipate any of the schools being at student capacity in 10 years as “enrollment is somewhat stable,” and he laid out the average cost per square foot of school buildings since 2017-18. The presentation noted that construction costs have increased 92% since then.
Capital improvement tasks for HAES, which include ADA upgrades, adding storage, improving parking lots and security, renovating restrooms, and more, total between $17 million and $20.5 million. Comprehensive renovations, which include replacing all interior finishes, addressing programming challenges and improving play areas, would cost between $24.2 million and $29 million.
GLE capital improvements would include upgraded security measures, a renovated Administration Suite, replacement of HVAC, floor replacement and more, and cost would be between $22 million and $26.7 million. Comprehensive renovations, including adding four classrooms and a STEM lab, would be between $24.5 million and $31.7 million.
MBE capital improvements would include replacing the Public Address System, making ADA upgrades, renovating restrooms and more, and cost between $20.5 million and $24.6 million. Comprehensive renovations, including adding two classrooms and faculty dining area, would cost between $25.9 million and $31 million.
SMS capital improvements would include removing hazardous materials in occupied spaces, constructing recreation spaces, upgrading/replacing the elevator, upgrading the auditorium and more. Those projects are estimated to cost between $19.5 million and $23.4 million, while comprehensive renovations are estimated to cost between $25.4 million and $30.5 million and include a secure vestibule and a connection to the sixth grade annex.
Montgomery Central capital improvements, which include replacing windows and doors, upgrading the electrical and lighting systems, ADA upgrades, and more, are estimated to cost between $10.7 million and $12.8 million. Comprehensive renovations, which would also address programming challenges, plumbing repairs and more, is estimated to cost between $13.6 million and $16.3 million.
Courtney Rogers, senior vice president of Davenport Public Finance, provided a detailed presentation about the county’s debt profile.
He said the debt capacity is like the “credit card limit” while the debt affordability is how the sum is paid back.
The projections Rogers presented assumed a 20-year term with a 5% interest rate and 2% expenditures growth annually, which estimated the 10-year total debt capacity to be nearly $301 million.
Davenport also presented a scenario assuming that funding for Phases 1 and 2 (total of $153.3 million) would be issued through two borrowings with Phase 1 ($91.8 million) assumed to occur in fall of 2031, and Phase 2 ($61.5 million) assumed to occur in fall of 2041.
Rogers and county officials said that if the boards were to greenlight starting these projects sooner, it would take about two/two and a half years to get started.
Supervisor Todd King said he remembers that there was an understanding during the Christiansburg High School renovations discussions that the board wouldn’t borrow any more money until 2033.
“That’s just not right,” he said.
A full copy of the Davenport presentation can be found online at www.montva.com under “Meeting Agendas and Minutes.” A full video recording of the special meeting can also be found online.
