Representatives from Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates announced to the Fluvanna County School Board that plans to possibly close Cunningham and Columbia elementary schools are not being considered at this time. Instead, they are looking to close other buildings once the new high school is opened. This is all part of the “Domino Effect.”

After careful review, it was determined that the Abrams Building and the old Palmyra School building can be closed. This would eliminate the need for costly renovations to the two facilities. The Head Start building could be shut down, too, and the program would be moved to Central Elementary. One of the major benefits of doing this is that it would ease pressure on the wastewater treatment plant at Central.

The computer classrooms and network hub in the Abrams Building could be relocated to either the middle school or the current high school. All offices and workrooms would be moved also. One drawback of shutting down the Abrams Building is that it has historical significance to the community.

If the middle school building is shut down there will be insufficient capacity to hold the elementary school grades. The only way those students can be accommodated is if modular classrooms are set up, additions are made to the current building, or Central Elementary is filled to its maximum capacity while a new middle school is built.

These changes not only cause confusion regarding where to put students, but it also puts a strain on the the budget and wastewaterfacilities. The treatment facility serving Central Elementary is scheduled to be upgraded in two phases. The first part of the upgrade will take place during the 2011 fiscal year and will cost approximately $100,000. Phase two of the upgrade will happen during the 2012 fiscal year at a cost of about $200,000. The middle school/Carysbrook treatment facility is scheduled for a $500,000 upgrade during the 2012 fiscal year, as well. Four new school buses are likely to be purchased during that same year for a cost of $300,000.

Twelve additional staff members are scheduled to be hired for fiscal year 2013. There will be eight new custodial positions, one new position in division maintenance, one additional administrator and two more office staff members. The wages for the added personnel will be about $461,000.

The new high school is now84 percent complete, with 90 percent of the cost billed as of Oct. 12. The estimated date of completion is May 13, but there are two potential delays that remain unresolved. One issue involves the rainwater tanks and the other issue involves an undisclosed structural problem.

Construction crews are working on glass, ceilings, floors, paint and hardware. Kitchen equipment and landscaping are the next areas on schedule for completion. Maples, redbuds and cedars will be planted throughout the property.

Wooden ceilings, which can easily be removed if needed, are being installed in certain areas. Teaching walls in the classrooms have accent colors while the other walls have a more subtle color. The floors are environmentally friendly and are easily cleaned with just a damp mop.

The slate floors were purchased from a company in Richmond, but originally came from China. R.J. Searcy, a concerned resident from Palmyra, questioned the quality of the flooring. 

“Before we finish our contract ... we should highly scrutinize this,” Searcy said. He said he doesn’t believe the floors can withstand the wear and tear they’ll be put through.