Construction could begin soon on new Riverheads, Buffalo Gap middle schools
VERONA — Augusta County is getting closer to the start of construction on two middle school wings, one at Riverheads High School and the other at Buffalo Gap High School.
The project is part of a 10-year capital plan by the Augusta County School Board. Currently, Beverley Manor Middle serves both the Riverheads and Buffalo Gap communities. This new construction will allow both communities to have their own middle schools like Fort Defiance, Stuarts Draft and Wilson.
The total cost of the two new middle schools to be financed, according to Superintendent Eric Bond at the school board’s July 7 meeting, is $63.9 million. The total includes $7.7 million in architect and engineering fees and $327,000 worth of contingency. It also includes $5.2 million for auxiliary gyms for both schools.
If all goes according to plan, construction will begin either the end of July or beginning of August with a projected opening of the new schools set for August 2024.
Buffalo Gap Middle School will be a two-story building, attached to the high school’s kitchen and built to the left of the high school in the present parking lot.
The main entrance will be in the front of the building facing Buffalo Gap Highway. Deputy Superintendent Doug Shifflett said parking will be extended into the field to the left of the current high school.
Riverheads Middle School will be attached to the kitchen at the back of the high school on the practice field. Shifflett said the school will have a canopy attachment to the ag/science classrooms and shop areas. The main entrance will be facing Riverheads Elementary School.
“The main floor will be level with the present grade of the land,” Shifflett said. “One grade level will be on a second floor near the present RHS ag/science classrooms and a few (middle school) classrooms below grade level that matches the terrain of the present land associated with the back parking lot and elevation of the (high school) cafeteria.”
Although the floor plans are specific to each location as the terrain dictated, both schools will have the same amount of classroom space, office areas, library, and elective classes to accommodate 350 students at each school. At this time, Shifflett said Augusta County is projecting between 320 and 335 students in grades 6-8 at each school.
Each facility will be a standalone school, sharing HVAC and outside practice facilities, as well as kitchen space, with the high schools, but the middle schools will have separate dining areas. The entrances for both schools will be separate from the high schools.
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A new gym will be added to the middle school wing at Buffalo Gap to allow the high school to keep its two functioning gyms for classes and extracurricular activities and athletics.
Riverheads High School’s old gym will be renovated so it can be used for the middle school physical education classes, Shifflett said. An additional gym will be added to the existing high school to allow them to have two gyms for classes and extracurricular activities and athletics.
The Augusta County School Board will be asking the Board of Supervisors for a bridge loan of almost $8.2 million to cover construction through October as well as fees already incurred. An expected bond sale in November would allow the school board to repay the loan.
“This is not unheard of,” Bond told the school board. “We have done bridge loans with the board of supervisors before so this is not unusual.”
The board approved Bond drafting a letter asking the supervisors for the loan. The supervisors should consider that request at its July 27 meeting.
The Pastures District’s Timothy Simmons asked about a possible delay to avoid the bridge loan and allow “things to level back out.” Bond explained the issue with that scenario would be the possibility for both higher interest rates and a rise in construction costs.
“We feel like if we lock in at least at the 3% or the 3.25% and we can lock in on the guaranteed maximum price of $63.9 million,” Bond said, “Ultimately, it's going to save us millions of dollars in the long run without delaying any longer.”
Shifflett said the impact on the high schools during construction should be minimal. During construction, Shifflett said the schools will experience some changes in traffic flow as space will be needed for equipment as well as the building itself.
Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Buffalo Gap, Riverheads middle school construction could begin soon
