The County’s annual Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) addresses short-term facility planning. The CIP is schedule for the acquisition, development, enhancement, or replacement of public facilities over a five (5) year period. Under § 15.2-2232 of the Code of Virginia, a local Planning Commission shall ensure that projects included in the CIP are substantially in accord (in conformance) with the locality’s Comprehensive Plan in terms of location, character, and extent when those projects are not shown in the Comprehensive Plan.

One project proposed for inclusion in the CIP is not shown in the Comprehensive Plan and also contains sufficient detail for review by the Planning Commission. That project is expansion and renovation of Spotsylvania Middle School.

 Project Detail: According to Spotsylvania County Schools, the overall scope of the Spotsylvania Middle School project will focus on making the facility a 21st century learning environment. The project will also focus on access upgrading areas to ADA codes and standards. Spotsylvania Middle is at capacity so one goal is to add capacity. This can be done not only by adding square footage but making better use of existing space. Educational requirements and the needed classes have changed since the original 1965 design. The site around the building will change as the design and flow of the building changes. Some of those changes will include better access and added space for parent pickup and drop off.

 Staff Review: Guiding Principles and Policies C.4. within the Comprehensive Plan seeks to “ensure that Spotsylvania County continues to provide excellent educational and recreational, and cultural opportunities.” This proposal falls within the umbrella of that guiding policy. Comprehensive Plan support for this renovation and expansion project is exhibited within the Public Facilities Element in Key Policies of the Public Facilities Plan #2, “construct or expand facilities in accord with established criteria and level of service standards.” As noted by the schools in the project detail above, Spotsylvania Middle is presently at capacity and expansion is warranted to accommodate additional capacity. The Comprehensive Plan has established a County School Board design capacity of 940-960 students for middle schools as a key level of service indicator. As of October 1, 2018, Spotsylvania County Public Schools report Spotsylvania Middle enrollment of  934 (still within design capacity parameters established in the Comprehensive Plan). By the 2020-2021 school year however, schools project enrollment to increase to 1020 students or 60 above top threshold level of service design capacity as per the Comprehensive Plan. Staff notes the Spotsylvania Middle School has an actual designed building capacity for up to 907 students so from a space needs standpoint the building is already considered over capacity.

 This project is consistent with facility design and location criteria established in the Comprehensive Plan including to “schedule school construction to relieve overcrowding and plan for new growth before it occurs”, and “provide up-to-date learning facilities including advances in technology and related instructional software”. As a cost effective measure the project is well aligned with Comprehensive Plan recommendations for the provision of adequate school facilities, including “look to constructing additions to existing school facilities before constructing new school facilities for cost efficiency purposes.” Additionally, seeking capacity expansion through physical expansion and design efficiencies as exhibited by the project description is very much consistent with schools recommendations to “maintain levels of service by staying consistent with state standards for classroom size by education level and full utilization of school facilities based on building capacity.”