Public HearingReceive Input for Proposal Submitted to Build a New 

Intermediate School

Preparing All Students to Thrive in a Dynamically Changing World

Public Hearings

Wednesday, September 19 Washington Lee 900 Washington Lee Drive 6:00 p.m.

Monday, September 24 Van Pelt 200 Springhill Terrace 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 26 Highland View 1405 Eads Street 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 27 Stonewall Jackson 2045 Euclid Avenue 6:00 p.m.

History of Schools

• Highland View was built in 1937• Stonewall Jackson was built in 1948• Washington‐Lee was built in 1968

5

History of Two Elementary School Model Plan• Discussions since Fall of 2011 when the Board had an independent consultant conduct a facility study

• Found Highland View building to be “functionally obsolete” due to age of building, the site topography and the internal circulation limitations.

• Board 2013‐14 Focus Goal #4– Pursue a two‐elementary school facilities plan that alleviates overcrowding, better utilizes current faculty and staff, and provides the best possible learning environment for our students.

Questions To Be Answered Tonight• Why?• Where?• How?• What?• How much?• Who?• Why Now?• Why Not?• Your Questions

Why?• Asbestos• Moisture infiltration• Radon• Air quality • Energy inefficiency• Handicap inaccessibility• Outdated infrastructure 

including electrical, plumbing, fire protection, restrooms, and HVAC

• Kitchen areas in need of repairs and have limited space

• Lack of storage• Unsafe bus loading and car 

rider areas• Limited parking• Sidewalks, stairs, etc. do not 

meet code• Elevator and intercom

systems are no longer serviceable

• Functionally obsolete• Renovation costs are 

unaffordable and unfinanceable

Where?

Reviewed properties > 10 acres in CitySelected thirteen (13) properties to evaluateToured Saturday, November 18, 2017Sixteen (16) staff completed evaluationBoard narrowed to five properties at December 5th board meeting

Van Pelt

Owner: City of Bristol, VirginiaAcreage: 32Topography: Mostly flatPrice: $0Utilities: On siteNumber students within three mile radius: 814 (74%)

Van Pelt

1 Mile –250

3 Mile –814

5 Mile –1,077

How? Process

• Began discussions• Identified potential sites• Held four public hearings and 

numerous other opportunities for input

• Received an unsolicited bid• Board accepted unsolicited bid 

for review• Board requested competing 

proposals• Board contracted with outside 

advisors to assist in review

• Received two conceptual proposals

• Board requested detail proposals from both

• Board received detailed proposals• Board accepted proposal from     

J. A. Street• Next steps:

• Public hearings• Board approval of 

comprehensive agreement• Council must approve 

entering of a comprehensive agreement

What? New School Characteristics

• Learning spaces designed with collaboration in mind

• 2 enrichment labs• One story; 85,684 square 

feet• Normal classroom size –

800 square feet• Full‐size gym• 1360 ft. access road from 

Suncrest Drive

• Separate automobile and bus traffic drop‐offs

• Total ADA accessibility• Heating and cooling –

rooftop units• Fire alarms, sprinkler 

system, motion sensitive lighting, LED fixtures

• Designed for 50‐year life expectancy

What? New School Characteristics

• 1 – full size music room with storage

• 1 – full size art room with storage

• 2 – designated speech therapy rooms

• 3 – resource rooms• 2 – full size special education 

classrooms with equipment storage and restrooms

• 1 – full size occupational therapy/physical therapy room with storage

• 8 – PreK/2nd grade classrooms with inclusive restrooms for each two rooms

• 2 – teacher workrooms with staff toilets nearby

• 9 – 3rd grade classrooms (projected to need 8)

• 9 – 4th grade classrooms (projected to need 8)

• 9 – 5th grade classrooms (projected to need 8)

• 2 – enrichment labs

Also includes office space for CIS, Day Treatment and SRO in addition to normal administrative office space, media center, gym and cafeteria.

Floor Plan

Footprint

21st Century Learning Center

How Much? Annual Cost

• Proposal offers a 30‐Year triple net lease• Proposed annual lease payment: $1,254,500• Lifetime Cost: $37,635,000• Includes cost of issuance and underwriters discount

• Excludes any savings from consolidation– $8,479,848

• Final financing plan to be negotiated and may differ from proposal

Renovation Comparison

8,479,847.91 

42,005,678.00 

31,740,871.90 33,373,831.90 

27,079,251.90 

 ‐

 5,000,000.00

 10,000,000.00

 15,000,000.00

 20,000,000.00

 25,000,000.00

 30,000,000.00

 35,000,000.00

 40,000,000.00

 45,000,000.00

New School UtilizingPPEA Process and Van

Pelt Renovation

Renovate All ElementarySchools

Renovate Three; CloseOne; Consolidate withWing Addition to Van

Pelt

Renovate Three; CloseOne; Move 5th to VMS;8th to VHS with Wing

Addition at VHS

Renovate Three; CloseOne; Move 5th to VMS;

8th to VHS withRepurpose of Existing

Space

Lifetime Cost Netted with Savings

Annual Savings

Personnel 865,859Operational 121,798

Total Anticipated Savings 987,6572017‐2018 Appropriation (excludes debt service) 6,986,0102018‐2019 Appropriation 6,686,0102020‐2021 Requested Appropriation 6,936,010

Restoration of $250,000 of FY 2019 Budget Reduction Plus Savings

1,237,657

Who? Personnel Impact

Description Number of Staff

Administration 1

Teacher 5

Teacher PE 1

Media 1

Counselor 1

Clerical 1

Nurse 1.6875

Custodial 3

Why Now?

• Senator Stanley– Internet sales tax– Civil Rights

• Delegate Edmunds– Tax similar to NOVA transportation tax

• Either of these will cause significant competition

• Should not wait until we HAVE to do it• Opportunity costs

Cost of 1 Year DelayAnnual Payment

$1,254,500.00

$1,480,000.00$1,535,000.00 $1,637,000.00

$0.00

$200,000.00

$400,000.00

$600,000.00

$800,000.00

$1,000,000.00

$1,200,000.00

$1,400,000.00

$1,600,000.00

$1,800,000.00

Proposed 4.55% Postpone 1 year plus .35 Postpone 1 year plus .60 Postpone 1 year plus 1.1

Annual Payment

Cost of 1 Year DelayTotal Cost

$37,635,000.00

$44,400,000.00 $46,050,000.00$49,110,000.00

$0.00

$10,000,000.00

$20,000,000.00

$30,000,000.00

$40,000,000.00

$50,000,000.00

$60,000,000.00

Proposed 4.55% Postpone 1 year plus .35 Postpone 1 year plus .60 Postpone 1 year plus 1.1

Total Cost 

Cost of 1 Year DelayOpportunity Cost

$6,765,000.00

$8,415,000.00

$11,475,000.00

$0.00

$2,000,000.00

$4,000,000.00

$6,000,000.00

$8,000,000.00

$10,000,000.00

$12,000,000.00

$14,000,000.00

Postpone 1 year plus .35 Postpone 1 year plus .60 Postpone 1 year plus 1.1

Opportunity Cost

Rate Change from August to September

• Proposal was submitted August 10• Based on our most recent information, if this closed today, the rate would have increased .10% to 4.65%

• This would:– increase the annual payment by $65,500– decrease the total construction cost by approximately $1,000,000

Brown vs. Board of Education?

One of the criterion laid out in the decision was “the physical condition of the school plant.” In this ruling, which is commonly referred to “Brown II,” the underlying factor is race, but can that provision be applied more broadly in today, in 2018, even in localities that have overwhelmingly white student populations?

Poverty Data

65%59%

74% 76%

85%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

District Van Pelt Washington‐Lee Stonewall Jackson Highland View

Poverty

50 yrsold

70 yrsold

81 yrsold

43yrsold

Minority Data

19% 19%20%

28% 28%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

District Stonewall Jackson Van Pelt Highland View Washington‐Lee

Minority

Why Not?

Risk• Effect on debt capacity• Effect on bond rating• Looming Falls payment• Need to cut education 

budget further• Traffic• Small vs. Large

Reward• Improved learning 

environments• Equity for all students• Long term savings• Energy efficiency• Attractive to business and 

industry• Attractive to home buyers• Increase in property values• Potential for revenue 

generation• $6,000,000 City Surplus• No current need for tax 

increase

Recent Philosophy on Projects• Think big or go home.• Think long term and not short term.• We are only asking for consent to move forward (no City obligation other than appropriation). 

• This will be a private project with Street Team accepting all risk.

• This is a game changer and it will be a game changer for decades.

• This has tremendous potential to have a positive impact on local economy.

• If not this, what? If not now, when?

21st Century School