Engineering consultant delivers project timeline

The engineering consultant for Culpeper County High School presented a renovation timeline Thursday during a steering committee meeting.

Gary Watson of the Reston-based SHW Group said he would like to begin the initial $955,000 central plant work during the summer of 2010. This part of the plan includes replacing the chillers, cooling tower and pumps, HVAC system, electrical, piping and mechanical equipment to the 40-year-old building.

Next, Watson suggested the two-year $19 million renovation should begin during the summer of 2011 and conclude during the summer of 2013.

But before any construction starts, the Culpeper County School Board must approve the renovation project and the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors must appropriate the funding.

Details have yet to be finalized, but supervisors are expected to present the project to voters in a bond referendum in November 2010.

Last month, the CCHS Renovation Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the School Board move forward with the central plant work.

The committee is scheduled to officially present its recommendation to the School Board during the Oct. 26 work session and to the supervisors in January.

After Watson’s presentation, Elizabeth Hutchins, committee chairwoman and School Board member, said the light fixtures at CCHS were recently upgraded and would not need any new renovations, therefore saving the county some money.

Geary Parkinson, committee member and CCPS maintenance director, brought up the question whether federal stimulus money specifically dedicated for school construction would help fund this renovation project. Watson said his company is looking at several designs to find the most cost-effective equipment.

CCPS Superintendent Bobbi Johnson said she will continue to research how to obtain stimulus funding for the school division.

Gov. Tim Kaine announced Wednesday the availability of $119 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act bond authorizations for local school systems to finance energy-efficient improvements and renovations.

School divisions have until the Nov. 11 deadline to submit applications to the state.