Capital Improvement Program Budget

 

ACPS Budget: addressing capacity needs and supporting instructional excellence in our schools

The Alexandria City School Board adopted the proposed Capital Improvement Program budget (CIP) of $495,804,800 for the next ten years for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). The CIP budget focuses on addressing the division’s capacity needs and supporting instructional excellence in our schools. This is more than $50M less than the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2031 CIP, which can be attributed to the School Board’s fiscally responsible decision to purchase and renovate the 1703 N. Beauregard building rather than build a new school. The Alexandria City Council is scheduled to approve this CIP budget in the Spring of 2022. 

“I appreciate the work that Superintendent Dr. Hutchings and his team have done to develop the FY 2022-2031 CIP. This budget considers the critical capital planning needs of Alexandria City Public Schools, including capacity and sound management of our school infrastructure, so that our facilities function to support student success,” said School Board Chair Meagan L. Alderton. “The School Board is confident that this CIP budget accurately and responsibly addresses the school division's needs.”

Addressing Capacity

As of Sept. 30, 2021, ACPS enrollment is 15,477. With many ACPS schools currently at overcapacity, and enrollment expected to increase within the next ten years, addressing capacity is a priority. The FY 2023-2032 CIP Budget proposes funding for four projects that directly address capacity needs. These projects include three school replacements: the Alexandria City High School (ACHS) Minnie Howard campus, George Mason Elementary School and Cora Kelly School for Technology and Math; and one renovation project at 1703 N. Beauregard, an office building planned for purchase this winter that will be renovated into a swing space and then a new 600-student capacity school. 

The High School Project remains on schedule, with construction expected to begin in spring 2022. As part of the High School Project, the CIP Budget includes an additional funding request of $12.5M, per City Council approval in June 2021, for an aquatic facility at the Minnie Howard campus. The proposed purchase of the 1703 N. Beauregard building has allowed ACPS to pivot its original plan of constructing a new 600-student capacity school to renovating an existing building, an adjustment that has decreased the necessary project funding by $39.2M. The 1703 building will also be used as swing space for George Mason and Cora Kelly, allowing ACPS to move forward with its next two replacement projects without an increase in either project’s budget. 

“We appreciate the support of the School Board in approving the FY 2023-2032 Capital Improvement Program budget. This budget will allow us to continue the important work of addressing school capacity and the modernization of our facilities,” said Acting Chief of Facilities and Operations Dr. Alicia Hart.

Supporting Instructional Excellence

Major non-capacity projects included in the FY 2023-2032 CIP Budget include life-cycle replacements of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) across the division, the demolition of the old Patrick Henry building (currently being used as swing space for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School) and the subsequent installation of fields at Patrick Henry K-8 School. The budget also proposes maintaining funding for updated textbooks and technology. 

The adopted budget aligns with each of the goals of the ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan: Equity for All, as well as the School Board CIP priorities for the next ten years, which include building upgrades, such as HVAC, roof, and safety and security upgrades; compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) projects in the areas of transportation and playgrounds; modernizing ACPS facilities and increasing ACPS’ seat capacity; and planning for future projects which includes communications and engagement support. Textbook and technology upgrades are also funded through the CIP and are also School Board priorities.

Highlights of the School Board’s FY 2023-2032 Capital Improvement Program Budget

• The budget prioritizes critical ACPS needs, including capacity, upgrades to safety and security and modernization projects. 

• Approximately $1M has been allocated to textbook resources in FY 2023.

• An additional $12.5M has been added to the High School Project budget in FY 2023 per the City Council’s approval of the Aquatic Facility in June 2021.

• The modernization of George Mason Elementary School will be a total building replacement with funding starting in FY 2025.

• The modernization of Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology will be a total building replacement with funding starting in FY 2027. 

• The FY 2023-2032 budget includes funding for renovations to the 1703 N Beauregard building. The building will be used as a swing space for George Mason and Cora Kelly before becoming a new school. 

• Facility Conditions Assessments conducted in the summer/fall of 2021 were used to inform the non-capacity budget and inform priorities.

“We are grateful for the School Board’s support of this capital planning budget,” said Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. “This budget aligns with our strategic plan, ensures fiscal responsibility and addresses ACPS’ most critical capital needs. The School Board’s approval of this budget allows us to move forward as we continue pursuing instructional excellence in all of our schools.” 

ACPS’ CIP project funding is allocated by the City of Alexandria. During the approval process, a public hearing and two School Board work sessions were held to discuss the proposed budget. No additional work sessions were added before the adoption of the budget. Now that the capital projects are approved by the School Board, the City maintains all CIP funding and the accounting for these funds. The CIP budget exclusively funds capital improvement and modernization projects. The CIP budget is separate from the Combined Funds budget, which includes three separate funds: Operating, Grant and Special Projects, and School Nutrition.  

Watch the presentation to the School Board