By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a $282,351 request from Botetourt County Public Schools (BCPS) for the replacement of two rooftop HVAC units at Breckinridge Elementary School during the board’s monthly meeting in Daleville last Tuesday. The approval follows a report from BCPS detailing the need for the units, which have recently failed, compromising the school’s ability to properly heat and cool its classrooms.
The two new units would be for one 20-ton rooftop unit (approximately $80,000) that would cover three classroom spaces and a hallway, and one 30-ton rooftop unit (approximately $120,000) that would cover five classrooms, a computer lab, and a hallway. Additionally, BCPS asked for the county to help cover the cost of 10 rented heating units the school has used since November.
The request exceeded the $150,000 threshold set by the School Capital Reserve Fund Policy, which mandates that any expenditure over this amount must be reviewed and approved by the Board of Supervisors. With the current balance of the School Capital Reserve Fund (CIP) sitting at $1,576,609.71, the replacement of the HVAC units will bring the fund’s balance down to $1,294,258.71.
The failure of the two HVAC units at Breckinridge prompted the immediate need for replacements to ensure the school’s climate control system is functioning optimally. According to the request submitted to the board, the new units are critical for maintaining a comfortable atmosphere for students and staff, especially as temperatures fluctuate throughout the year.
While the requested funds were well above the county administrator’s usual approval limit for the use of CIPs, BCPS emphasized the importance of replacing the HVAC system promptly to avoid any further deterioration of the school’s heating and cooling capabilities.
BCPS Director of Operations Andy Dewease told the board that out of the school’s seven rooftop units, five of them, installed in 2009, are “functioning properly” while two that were installed in 2000 need replacing. The usage time for a rooftop unit today is 15-20 years, on average.
“We have been crutching along with these two rooftop units for several years now,” Dewease said. “They’ve come to a place where they have failed. The parts are obsolete.”
The School Board made the decision last November to seek the request to have the units replaced at Breckinridge. Over the winter months, Dewease said that BCPS has rented 10 individual one-ton units that provide “adequate” heat for the students in one-third of the school building. The rental rate for each unit is approximately $900 monthly, totaling approximately $9,000 every month (for 10 units) since November.
Dewease told the supervisors that this installation would be a summer project. The 20-ton unit is “readily available” but will require some additional curbing work that would need to be done. The 30-ton unit has a lead time, but will need a crane and “significant work” from the provider. Dewease said BCPS can continue to rent the dual-functioning units through the remaining cold weather months when asked about the length of the rental from Blue Ridge Supervisor Walter Michael.
“The good thing about these one-ton rental units, not only do they provide heat, they have dual-function– they can provide (air-conditioning) as well. Of course, there is not much of a capacity in the building during the summer months and, really, these classrooms areas may be used for summer programming.”
In approving the request, the board acknowledged the importance of maintaining the county’s school facilities and recognized that the CIP was designed to support such initiatives. This decision underscores the county’s ongoing commitment to supporting education and maintaining high standards for local public schools.
Following the request approval, a citizen comment from a Cloverdale resident questioned the “plan” behind replacing HVAC units at Breckinridge and the subsequent discussion about additional classrooms needed at Colonial Elementary. He suggested “tightening up” the planning process so that other schools don’t end up running into similar situations in terms of replacing equipment and the growing capacities at the schools.
Graphic courtesy of Botetourt Co.
Discussion of additional classrooms at Colonial Elementary
A critical discussion unfolded regarding the pressing need for additional classrooms at Colonial Elementary School. As the school’s student enrollment continues to rise, BCPS requested funding for expanded infrastructure to accommodate growing numbers. Board Chair Amy White noted that this request was merely in the discussion phase for information, no actions were taken by the board.
During the October and November meetings of the Botetourt School Board, Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Russ and board members discussed the need for additional classrooms at Colonial, and the possibility of moving the item from the school’s maintenance plan to the general operations budget as a prioritized project.
The school division emphasized the importance of timely action to prevent overcrowding and ensure that the county’s educational facilities continue to serve its students effectively. Russ stated this has been an issue for the last couple of years. Colonial no longer services a preschool at the school, while the division is in the process of creating an additional preschool room at Cloverdale Elementary. Russ added that while moving the Colonial preschool students there wasn’t “ideal,” but is the school division’s best alternative at this time.
“As most of you probably know, off the side of the (Colonial Elementary) cafeteria was a teacher workroom/lounge,” Russ shared. “We had to move the music room… they now meet in that workroom. In that music room, we had to create a regular classroom based on the number of students that had moved into that building.”
Russ noted that proper acoustics are needed for a music room. Currently, the music room now neighboring the cafeteria doesn’t provide those acoustics fit for that type of classroom. His concern is moving the Colonial preschoolers out of the elementary school and being less familiar with the building once they arrive for their kindergarten year.
“We would love to be able to bring them back,” Russ continued. “If we are granted these additional classrooms at Colonial, we would be able to probably add another preschool classroom… I would tell you, four classrooms would be a great addition. If we open with four new classrooms today, we’re actually opening with only two because we’re two behind now. We would need to move the music (room) back and we would like to get our preschool back into their classroom as well.”
Russ didn’t think there would be a need for additional teachers but if another preschool class were added later, then a new preschool teacher would likely be needed.
“Looking at numbers as of today when compared to last year for kindergarten registrations (at Colonial),” Russ added, “we’re up above where (the school division was) at this point last year. I think we’re in good shape that we will be able to operate with four kindergarten classrooms in that building this year, but I can’t promise the number won’t keep climbing to get to another request. And if that request comes in this year, I’ll just admit to you right now, I don’t know where we would put that classroom.”
Vice Chair Dr. Mac Scothorn asked about capacities at other elementary schools. Russ said that other schools “are close to the same capacities,” but didn’t have the exact numbers in front of him but told the board the division is willing to share those. Scothorn then asked how the division will monitor other schools’ needs. Russ said, “One school at a time. One request at a time.”
For more on last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, visit the “Botetourt County, Va.” YouTube channel where live streams of past meetings are available at any time.
