The City Council on Tuesday night received a presentation from School Superintendent Dr. Angela Hairston on capital projects planned for the Danville Public Schools. The projects total $140 million using local, state, and federal funds, as well as revenue from the one-percent sales tax.
Danville Public Schools provided the following information:
George Washington High School
Through a Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act (PPEA) agreement, funded by sales tax revenues, renovations to GW will include improvements to the Career & Technical Education building, the media center, gymnasium spaces, athletic fields classrooms, technology infrastructure, and more. For the estimated project, the School Board approved the proposal from English Construction, Blair Construction, and RRMM Architects to begin work for the detailed phase of these renovations. Click here to view their proposal. Click here to view their proposal.
G.L.H. Johnson Elementary School
For the first elementary school project from the one-percent sales tax revenues, plans include a newly constructed school building on the same property using a PPEA agreement. The School Board approved the proposal from Branch Builds, Moseley Architects, and Dewberry to proceed to begin work on the proposal for the detailed phase of the new school project. Click here to view their proposal.
J.M. Langston Campus
Using funds generated from the one-percent sales tax, renovations to the John M. Langston Campus will allow for Galileo Magnet High School and central office staff to be moved to the campus, as well as a STEM and Career Academy for students district-wide. The gymnasium and auditorium will be available for community use. In May, Dewberry was chosen for the provision of A & E Services for Improvements at the Langston campus.
GWHS Track
With construction beginning in March, the 8-lane NCAA certified George Washington High School Track and Field facility is underway. Thanks to generous funds from Danville City Council, the city will have a facility for its track and field athletes to use for the first time in 20 years. The facility is expected to be complete in mid-October and will be used by GW and Galileo track teams, as well as Averett University runners through a lease arrangement for the facility’s use and operation.
Langston Track
After being damaged in Tropical Storm Michael in 2018, Langston’s track is finally good as new. Using FEMA funds, the track was restored earlier this year, with painted lines and field lights added recently. Field preparations, as well as the addition of seating and a restroom facility, will make this track and field ready for practices and games in the future.
I.W. Taylor Virtual Academy
Over the past year, the I.W. Taylor building has received improvements to the building to accommodate the Virtual Academy and IT Student and Family Help Desk. Using pandemic relief funds, the school received technology infrastructure upgrades and renovations to the solarium, as well as a new roof. In addition, cosmetic and technology upgrades throughout the building provided for meeting and office spaces.
O.T. Bonner Middle School
Using state and local funds, O.T. Bonner Middle School’s facilities have received a facelift over the past two months. The gymnasium received a fresh coat of paint, as well as new bleachers. The auditorium is in the middle of a complete overhaul, which includes fresh paint, new flooring and seating, and upgraded technology. All classrooms will receive a fresh coat of paint. The rest of the building was also painted.
Forest Hills Elementary School
At Forest Hills, the entire building was painted, and a new auditorium roof installed using local capital improvement dollars.
Budget for all projects include bonds to be repaid from sales tax revenue totaling $127 million, ESSER funds in the amount of $8 million, $5 million from state/local funds, and $1.5 million in grants.
Going forward, plans for GW and Johnson will be refined, and public hearings will be held on proposals at the Aug. 4, school board meeting. In addition, DPS will hold community meetings in Spring 2023 for Forest Hills, Woodberry Hills, and Park Avenue Elementary Schools, with architects selected for the projects later in the year. The needs of Schoolfield, Bonner, and Westwood will also be evaluated for future projects.
By November 2023, DPS will have a 10-year facilities plan, which will include renovation, maintenance, and new school construction.