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Parents attend hearing, school building projects will move forward

Posted at 10:29 PM, Feb 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-09 23:43:24-05

CHESTERFIELD, Va. -- Parents attended a Chesterfield School Board public meeting Tuesday night to give their opinion about the CCPS budget and the capital improvement plan.

There are 10 Chesterfield schools that are part of a $304 million dollar initiative to improve school buildings in the county. The Capital Improvement Projects plan was approved by voters in 2013.

The schools in the project include:

  • Manchester Middle
  • Monocan High
  • Providence Middle
  • Beulah Elementary
  • Crestwood Elementary
  • Enon Elementary
  • Ettrick Elementary
  • Harrowgate Elementary
  • Matoaca Elementary
  • Reams Elementary

Parents were anxious to see how the school board plans to prioritize projects. Not all schools will be renovated, some like Enon Elementary, need to be rebuilt.

Enon Elementary

Enon Elementary

Pictures shared with CBS 6 by concerned parents show the extent of damage at Enon. Parents and teachers alike have had enough of the leaky roof, with the ceiling missing panels, and a building in states of disrepair – including a hole in the floor so big that a teacher fell through it.

Parents and teachers said the school on Route 10 – built in 1928 – is crumbling in its old age, and that a new building is long overdue.

School Board Members are working on the site design phase for the slated $29 million project, but parents say, meanwhile, the building is clearly in a slump.

Chesterfield County School Spokesperson Shawn Smith said the Enon Elementary project along with all the others are moving forward.

Enon Elementary

Enon Elementary

Smith said said it's now a matter of where Enon will be built.

Parent Tracy Estees says it was important for her to come speak tonight.

“As a parent and as someone who supports the teachers and administrators, I don't know how much longer it will hold out,” she said.

The new school is expected to be done in 2019.

The board is set to vote on the budget at the next board meeting on February 23.

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