Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 6/3/2021 - 5:00 PM
Category: New Business and Reports to the Board
Type: Info
Subject: George Mason and Cora Kelly Feasibility Study--45 mins.
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 4: Strategic Resource Allocation
ACPS will strategically provide differentiated resources and supports to schools and departments.
Policy: FB - Facilities Planning
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
File Attachment:
210603_MEMO_Feasibility_Study_George_Mason_Cora_Kelly_v2.pdf
210603_Att_1_CKGM_Feasibility_Study_Presentation.pdf
210603_Att_2_Draft_Final_Feasibility_Study.pdf
Agenda Item Summary: This is an update on the Feasibility Study work that began in the summer of 2019, on the school modernization projects for George Mason and Cora Kelly. The presentation includes the findings of the final report and confirms the following:
● The schools are in the correct order for modernization: George Mason and then Cora Kelly.
● Based on the evaluation of the existing building conditions and educational adequacy, it is likely that both buildings should be a complete replacement though renovation and addition options are provided for consideration.
● The feasibility study provides options with or without swing space. There are some significant implications for pursuing an option without swing space including but not limited to:
o For George Mason:
▪ Putting the George Mason school closer to residential properties
▪ Displacing our existing park area for students and the community
▪ Changing the character of the school building in the neighborhood
o For Cora Kelly:
▪ There are a lot of challenges on the site that need to be further studied such as the Resource Protection Area boundary and floodplain. Not having swing space creates an additional complexity that may be challenging to resolve in the design.
▪ Public Open Space will have to be rezoned and potentially lost.
Background: In an effort to plan for future school modernization projects, ACPS pursued feasibility studies for George Mason and Cora Kelly schools beginning in the summer of 2019. In January of 2020, the School Board received information on the preliminary findings of the Feasibility Study. Efforts on the Feasibility Study were paused in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff began working on the Feasibility Study again in January 2021. The next steps are to present the latest findings with the community and receive feedback before finalizing the report.
Recommendation: The Superintendent recommends that the School Board review the feasibility study materials.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Dr. Alicia Hart - Executive Director of Facilities and Operations
Signed By:
Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. - Superintendent