Dear Colleagues:

This November, in addition to electing a new president and vice president, as well as a new House of Representatives member, Albemarle County voters will have the opportunity to cast a ballot that will directly impact 25 of our schools. For the first time in more than 40 years, voters will be asked to consider whether Albemarle County should issue general obligation bonds to finance capital improvement projects for local schools.

The four projects to be financed by the School Bonds Referendum will impact the future quality of public education in our county:

• $15.2 million to reduce overcrowding and the use of trailers at Woodbrook, Greer, and Agnor-Hurt elementary schools through a 16-classroom addition at Woodbrook. This also would eliminate the double-busing of some Greer and Agnor-Hurt students due to lack of sufficient space for preschool services at those schools.
• $6 million to update seven science labs at Western Albemarle High School that are original to the school’s opening in 1978 and to add three new labs to support full implementation of the Environmental Studies Academy.
• $10.9 million to address deficiencies, such as inadequate electrical power, outdated equipment and furniture, and lack of natural light, present in learning spaces throughout the division, including 25 science labs and nearly 100 classrooms.
• $2.9 million to complete our division-wide security project through construction of controlled entrances at four remaining schools: Baker-Butler Elementary, Scottsville Elementary, Henley Middle, and Murray High.

Each of these projects is approved by the Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee, our School Board, and the Board of Supervisors, and is included in local government’s present Capital Improvement Plan.

Albemarle County is the only AAA bond-rated municipality in Virginia that does not routinely utilize general obligation bonds to finance its capital projects. If the referendum is approved, taxpayers could save at least $1 million in financing costs, since general obligation bonds carry a lower interest rate than revenue bonds the county currently uses.

As employees of the school division, we are not permitted to advocate for or against the bond referendum in our professional roles, but we are permitted to share information with our community. In conjunction with the League of Women Voters, we have scheduled three community forums to discuss the referendum: October 4 at Western Albemarle High School; October 11 at Monticello High School; and October 26 at Albemarle High School. All three meetings will begin at 6 p.m.

While in your professional role, you cannot advocate a vote be cast for or against the referendum; however, you can share information on how these projects would impact your school. Please join me in urging your friends, neighbors and communities to cast an informed ballot on the referendum on November 8.

Sincerely,

Katherine L. Acuff, Ph.D.
School Board Chair

Pamela R. Moran, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools