Solar Power:
FCPS continues to explore potential options to bring solar power to Lafayette Elementary School, Walker Grant Middle School, and the Walker Grant Center. The new middle school is also considered a possible site.
Additional meetings with other vendors to maximize possible solar capabilities and review requirements are in the process of being scheduled.
*New Middle School:
Progress Meeting:
Construction is tracking on time and under budget. The most recent progress meeting was held Friday August 2nd. Recent progress includes the completion of the brick veneer installation in the courtyard and installing windows in the courtyard. Interior framing continues, as does roofing in one section. Sprinkler rough in is also on-going. Dominion Power and Cox Communications have completed utility relocations, with Verizon still on-site. In the next two weeks, work on the Gateway Blvd. turn lane will begin.
Administrator Site Visits:
Site visits coordinated by Dr. Eberhardt were conducted on July 12th and July 19 with selected school division and community members.
Middle to Elementary School Conversion:
Phase I Progress:
Due to manufacturing delays beyond the school divisions control, the installation of new casework will take place starting Saturday August 10th. Cabinets will be unloaded after school on Friday August 9th to expedite weekend installation. Cubbies are scheduled to be installed the following Saturday, August 17th, Teacher wardrobes and high storage cabinets are now scheduled to be installed after school hours during the week of August 26th.
Phase II Preparation
Josh Bower of Crabtree Architects is recommending that the Middle to Elementary School Conversion Planning Committee re-convene in the next few weeks to finalize plans for Phase II of the project. This phase will take place in the summer of 2025. I will be following up regarding a meeting date shortly.
Learning Lane Closure:
The closure to replace a deteriorating culvert at the intersection of Emancipation Highway and Learning Lane will affect access to and from Lafayette Elementary School and Walker Grant Middle School. This project will necessitate having to enter and exit both schools during construction from/to Lafayette Boulevard via Pender, Rose and Hotchkiss streets. The culvert replacement project is expected to take approximately two months to complete.
Division staff has worked collaboratively with the Fredericksburg Police Department to devise a traffic pattern that ensures school buses and parent vehicles have a safe route to and from both schools. Specifically, the Walker Grant parent drop off/pick up lane has been modified to accommodate more vehicles on school property, thus removing them from Learning Lane and reducing potential congestion. Staff parking has been moved to the other side of the school to help accommodate this arrangement.
The division has hired two traffic safety monitors to help with traffic control, starting tomorrow afternoon. The Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Department has also committed two deputies to assist with traffic control on neighborhood streets.
Details of the Learning Lane closure and plans associated with it were shared with parents at Orientation on August 1st by both Ms. Wheeler, principal of Lafayette Elementary School, and Mr. Ventura, principal of Walker Grant Middle School. In addition, also the city held a Public Information Session at Lafayette Elementary School on July 31st to inform citizens.
FCPS is monitoring possible budgetary implications that may arise in addition to the costs of the two traffic safety monitors.
Bus Canopy Damage at Hugh Mercer Elementary School:
A structural engineer was hired to assess the integrity of the canopy and recommend repairs. Currently, a firm is excavating the footings of the canopy to allow the structural engineer to assess whether they were also damaged. During excavation, a temporary fence has been erected around this area to ensure it cannot be accessed by students and others. Results of the assessment should be completed soon.
The assessment and future repairs to the canopy will be included in an insurance claim.
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