2-12-2020 Special MeetingSPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD HELD IN THE ROBERT C.
CLAUD, SR. BOARD ROOM OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY COURTHOUSE
LOCATED AT 17090 MONUMENT CIRCLE, ISLE OF WIGHT, VIRGINIA ON
WEDNESDAY, THE TWELFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND
AND TWENTY
PRESENT:
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Joel C. Acree, Windsor District, Chairman
Richard L. Grice, Smithfield District, Vice Chairman
Rudolph Jefferson, Hardy District
William M. McCarty, Newport District
Don G. Rosie, II, Carrsville District
SCHOOL BOARD
Jackie W. Carr, Carrsville District, Chairman
Julia W. Perkins, Windsor District, Vice -Chairman
Denise Tynes, Smithfield District
Alvin Wilson, Hardy District
Victoria Hulick, Newport District
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Robert W. Jones, Jr., County Attorney
Randy R. Keaton, County Administrator
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant County Administrator
Carey Mills Storm, Clerk
SCHOOL BOARD
Dr. James Thornton, Superintendent
Tracey Reuitt, Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Acree called the special meeting of the Board to order at 5:00 p.m. for
the purpose of meeting jointly with the School Board to discuss- Hardy and
Westside elementary schools.
Dr. James Thornton, School Superintendent, provided the following timeline for
construction of Hardy Elementary School:
February 5th - Interview of six architects
February and March — visits to five elementary schools
April 1—prototype and architect selection
April through September—site plan review
October/November — bid and contract negotiation
December 2020 through August 2022 — construction
Superintendent Thornton advised that he will be visiting the following schools
which will be narrowed down to the top two choices, followed by hiring of a
construction management firm. He further advised that the roofs, mechanical
systems, finishes and architectural changes will be reviewed to fit the County's
instructional needs.
West Hanover Elementary School which has 775 students and was built at a
cost of $171/sf at a total cost of $15,590,923;
Winding Creek Elementary School which has 850 students and was built at
a cost of $160/sf for a total cost of $22,698,005;
Florence Bowser Elementary which has 1000 students and was built at a
cost of $186/sf for a total of $21,287,758;
Ocean View which was built at a cost of $201/sf for a total of $18,600,000;
and,
Thoroughgood Elementary School which has 825 students and built at a
cost of $304/sf at a total price of $27,960,000.
County Administrator Keaton advised that staff has met with both property
owners of the two parcels of land adjacent to Hardy Elementary School in
preparation of beginning the survey, geotechnical and appraisal processes. He
advised that the Hampton Roads Sanitation District is building a pump station
along the route of the school and the County is engaging a consultant to analyze
the community well system across the street at Thomas park and the one at
Tormentor Lake to weigh the option of whether to install a well system or extend
the water line from Smithfield that will serve the school.
Vice -Chairman Grice recommended that a management group be hired to
perform the selection of the construction administrative firm and that there be a
project overseer to ensure that this is a cooperative effort by the School Board
and the Board of Supervisors.
Collaboration between the two boards was identified as being critical and open
dialogue and joint meetings were agreed upon as being beneficial in keeping all
informed.
Vice -Chairman Grice remarked that selection of a construction engineer is critical
to the management of the project. He noted the importance of a group being in
place to manage the project and keep it on budget and on schedule.
Superintendent Thornton remarked that the RFP will involve a committee and he
recommended two members of each board along with other staff. He stated the
next steps will be to assemble what he needs for interviews with the feedback
from those interviews used as a selection for the prototype, followed by
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negotiation of a contract and the managing of day to day activities with reports
back to the two bodies and oversight of the architects and the construction
company.
County Administrator Keaton advised that the preliminary engineering work can
be funded by utilizing funds in this year's Capital Budget earmarked for short-
term fixes at Hardy Elementary School.
/I
Turning the discussion to Westside Elementary School, County Administrator
Keaton referenced the Facility Evaluation Study performed by Alpha Corporation
and reflecting a price of $26,000,000 for the renovation of Westside Elementary
School and $42,000,000 for the building of a new facility.
The consensus of the Board was to build a new Westside Elementary School
rather than renovate the existing one and examine other potential uses for the
existing facility. The Board noted the reasons for building versus renovation were
cost, no interruption to education; a renovation lasting for 30 years, while a new
facility will last for 60+ years; and, the cost of demolition can be high.
Consideration of building the new Westside Elementary School on property
owned by the County on Turner Drive was discussed regarding whether 19 acres
would be enough land to build the new Westside Elementary School on the same
site as the Smithfield Middle and High schools while maintaining enough green
space.
Vice -Chairman Grice suggested the practice fields could be relocated across the
street and that a tunnel could be built for access. He noted that the property
across the street drops off quickly at the tree line and is not as conducive for
development as the Yeoman farm. He recommended that the Yeoman farm be
negotiated as an alternative prior to making the decision whether to remodel or
rebuild.
Superintendent Thornton noted that the architect can make the determination if
the property across the street can be utilized for practice fields and return to the
boards with a report.
County Administrator Keaton pointed out that if the Westside Elementary School
is built on the same property as the middle and high schools, there would be no
utility cost because sewage and water are already in place there; however, if
Westside Elementary School is renovated, the cost of adding mobile classrooms
must be added to the cost of construction which might offset the cost for any
land purchases.
Chairman Acree summarized that it is the consensus of the two bodies that staff
continue to move forward with Hardy Elementary School and that staff continue
to look at land opportunities for Westside Elementary School so that informed
decisions can be made on whether to renovate or build a new facility.
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County Administrator Keaton advised that the County has other Capital
Improvement project in need of funding and, if the school projects come in lower,
the $64,00,000 could cover.
ADJOURNMENT
At 7:30 p.m., Chairman Acree declared the special joint meeting with the School
Board adjourned.
Careyi Is St6rm, Clerk
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Joel C. Acree, Cha' n