Concept Plan Presented For Merged School
Buena Vista school and city leaders took a significant step toward relocating Parry Mc-Cluer Middle School during a joint meeting last Tuesday, Feb. 24, reviewing a conceptual plan that would require only a new addition to Parry McCluer High School and a standalone wood shop as new construction.
Under the proposal presented by Superintendent Heather Ault and representatives from RRMM Architects, approximately 18,600 square feet would be added to the high school for a combined gymnasium and auditorium space, along with roughly 4,000 square feet for a new wood shop near the field house. Much of the middle school’s instructional programming would be accommodated within existing high school space through renovation and reconfiguration.
The presentation focused on the physical concept and operational structure of the move. While broad funding strategies were discussed, no final price was presented and no detailed financing plan was adopted at this stage.
Architect Ben Motley of RRMM told leaders that shifting the middle school grades into the existing high school building significantly reduces construction costs compared with previously explored options.
“Being able to absorb grades six and seven into your existing highest quality asset … that’s huge,” Motley said.
The joint meeting comes amid ongoing maintenance issues at Parry McCluer Middle School, where aging steam pipes have developed multiple leaks this winter. Ault said the building’s heating system is more than a century old, and repairs have become increasingly impractical.
“It’s not the best use of our taxpayer dollars to continue to put expensive, really expensive Band-Aids on a 101-year-old pipe,” she said.
Under the proposal, middle school students would occupy a distinct section of the high school, with separate entrances, administrative offices and restroom facilities. Shared spaces such as the cafeteria, library, art room and band room would be used on staggered schedules to maintain separation between middle and high school students.
The plan calls for combining a new auxiliary gym and auditorium into a single flexible space, located near the existing gymnasium, along with a new corridor and new athletic team rooms. The design would include a Virginia High School League– size basketball court, retractable bleachers seating about 175 for athletic events, and expanded seating — up to potentially 570 at max capacity — for performances and assemblies.
The standalone wood shop, located near the field house, would preserve career and technical education programming while avoiding site constraints near the main building.
Construction could take approximately two years after approval, according to the RRMM officials. Ault also said preliminary planning is underway to potentially move middle school students to the high school campus before new construction is completed, using temporary separation measures and targeted renovations to address immediate facility concerns.
During the presentation, Ault reviewed alternatives previously studied by the division. Renovating the existing middle school building was estimated several years ago at roughly $50 million, a figure officials said would likely be higher today. A new pre-K through seventh grade school was previously estimated at about $65 million
or more.
The division had also explored converting the former Mountain Gateway Community College building, but concluded that necessary additions, renovations and site improvements would make the project financially impractical.
Each option, Ault said, ultimately failed to meet the division’s goal of finding “the most fiscally responsible and cost-effective approach possible.”
On the subject of funding the project, Ault said the division plans to apply for the state’s school construction grant, which could cover up to 30% of eligible project costs. The next application window opens this month.
Leaders also discussed the potential adoption of a 1% optional local sales tax for school construction, which is expected to become available to localities statewide once the General Assembly approves it. Based on recent revenue trends, Ault said such a tax could generate between $600,000 and $650,000 annually in Buena Vista.
“[That] puts us in a place where it is very close to possible, if not possible, to pay for all of [the project] without needing any additional funding,” she said.
Members of both governing bodies appeared largely aligned on the need to continue investigating the proposal. Aside from a handful of clarifying questions, discussion reflected interest and cautious optimism.
Both boards came prepared with written motions designed to authorize further study, but clarify that their approval did not denote a commitment to the final plans and costs. They unanimously approved the measures to pursue next steps and funding options.
As planning continues, division leaders are preparing a series of community meetings focused specifically on the potential relocation of middle school students to the high school campus.
A meeting for current fifthand sixth-grade parents is scheduled for March 9 at 6 p.m. at the Ramsey Center, where officials plan “to tell them what school will look like potentially for their children next year,” Ault said.
A broader community meeting will follow March 11 at 6 p.m., also at the Ramsey Center, for “anyone else who wants to come and hear the presentation and what our next steps look like.”
Student meetings are also planned during the week of March 9 for students in grades five through 11. “Because they’re the ones that will be impacted next year, we want to make sure they understand what’s happening, and why, and their important role in this process,” Ault said.
Ault added that she is willing to meet with additional groups or individuals as questions arise. “I’m happy to go to any other community organization meetings, answer any questions, have people send me an email, give me a call — I’m happy to help,” she said.
The School Board is scheduled to hold a public hearing and vote on whether to move forward with the project at its March 26 meeting.
A meeting of the joint facilities committee, a workshop on “school construction delivery method options” with RRMM, is scheduled for today, Wednesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Ramsey Center, and all are welcome to attend.
