With a new year under way, the Hanover County School Board is already looking ahead, having adopted a Capital Improvement Plan for the years 2009-2019.
The action took place during the Monday, Feb. 2, meeting.

Mechanicsville District representative Glenn T. Millican Jr. was the lone no vote on the CIP. Supporting the proposal were Robert L. Hundley Jr., chairman, Chickahominy District; John F. Axselle III, vice chairman, Beaverdam District; Ann F.H. Gladstone, South Anna District; Earl J. Hunter Jr., Henry District; Sue Forbes Watson, Ashland District; and Robert L. Wood, Cold Harbor District.

Paul Carper, director of construction and planning for Hanover County Public Schools, worked with Eperitus, which, according to its Web site, www.eperitus.com, “helps educators take charge of change, so that they can reach their preferred future.” The Richmond-based company “works with leading educators on faciliities planning projects, data gathering and analysis, technology, vision and goal development, procurement services and grant services.”

According to Carper, Eperitus had been asked “to review the updated school enrollments and projections based on the 2008-2009 data.” Upon completion of that review, they learned that high school enrollment had declined by 117 students compared to the previous year. “Enrollments are projected to continue to decline at three out of the four high schools over the next several years.”

In a communication with Carper, Carl Chafin and Joanne Huebner, of Eperitus, recommended “that the school division should continue to monitor enrollment on an annual basis, but at this time a study that would lead to changes in secondary attendance zones adjustments to relieve overcrowding is not necessary.”

On Jan. 20, Carper presented proposed modifications to the CIP to the School Board.

Breakdowns in projects are:

2009-2010
- Additional elementary capacity (design), revised from $400,000 to $285,000.
- Career Technical Education additions/renovations to Atlee High School and Patrick Henry High School (design) revised from $494,000 to $284,000.
- Facilities improvement, $1,700,000 (referendum), no change.
- Mechanical/roofing improvements, $4,024,000 (referendum), no change.
- Computer replacement, revised from $1,240,000 to $640,000.
- School buses, revised from $2,045,000 to $995,000.

2010-2011
- Additional elementary capacity (construction), revised from $5,000,000 to $3,600,000.
- Career Technical Education additions/renovations at Atlee High School and Patrick Henry High School, $7,506,000, no change.
- Facilities improvement, $2,000,000, no change.
- Mechanical/roofing improvements, revised from $2,052,000 to $3,452,000.
- Technology infrastructure, $118,000, no change.
- Computer replacement, revised from $1,600,000 to $1,170,000.
- School buses, revised from $2,059,000 to $1,506,000.

2011-2012
No changes proposed
- Facilities improvement, $3,470,000.
- Mechanical/roofing improvements, $1,000,000.
- Technology infrastructure, $182,000.
- Computer replacement, $1,346,000.
- School buses, $2,327,000.

2012-2013
- Beaverdam Elementary School renovations, $12,649,000, no change.
- Computer replacement, revised from $1,272,700 to $1,523,000.
- School buses, revised from $2,096,300 to $2,346,000.
- Financial system, $500,000, delete this item.

2013-2014
No changes proposed

- Elmont: public utitlies, $450,000.
- Facilities improvement, $2,500,000.
- Computer replacement, $1,579,000.
- School buses, $2,360,000.

2014-2019
(No figures listed)
- Elementary school/middle school/high school school site.
- High school athletic facilities.
- Facilities renovation projects.
- Facilities improvement.
- Mechanical/roofing improvements.
- Computer replacement.
- School buses.