Community Letter

Community Letter
Posted on 10/26/2018
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Dear HCES and JGES Families, Faculty, and Staff,

During its annual planning retreat yesterday, the Hanover County school board announced their desire to consolidate Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary schools. While the possible consolidation will not occur for several years, we want to share this information with you as soon as possible as you will likely begin hearing about this in the community and media.

To ensure you are fully informed, we also want to share the most up-to-date information we have available to us regarding the board’s efforts thus far. They are as follows:

  • February 13, 2018 - As part of its annual budget process, the school board approved the Capital Improvement Plan that includes funding for the replacement of an elementary school (to be determined). Funding for construction is scheduled to be available on July 1, 2022.
  • May 24, 2018 - The school board held a work session regarding long-term capital planning of facilities. Based on a study requested by the board, RRMM Architects presented their findings and recommendations on ten schools that are in need of renovation or replacement over the next ten to twenty years. HCES was identified as one of three schools that is in need of replacing.
  • June 14, 2018 - RRMM Architects presented their findings to the Joint Education Committee (JEC). The JEC is comprised of school board and Board of Supervisor members. The school board announced that they would begin prioritizing facilities needs based upon the study.
  • September 14, 2018 - School board members toured and inspected the three schools that RRMM Architects identified as being in the greatest need of replacement— Battlefield Park Elementary School, Henry Clay Elementary School, and Washington-Henry Elementary School.
  • September 24, 2018 - The school board held its annual planning retreat. The board announced their desire to consolidate Henry Clay and John M. Gandy Elementary schools as a first step in the long-term capital planning process.

We hope this is helpful in addressing any questions or concerns you may have. Again, as noted above, the possible consolidation of HCES and JGES will not occur for several years. As a result, we want to reassure you that we will keep you fully informed of any further developments that may occur along the way. In addition, we will keep you posted on the various opportunities you will have to provide valuable feedback during this process.

Sincerely,

Terri Keck
Henry Clay Elementary School

Leigh Finch
John M. Gandy Elementary School

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