SIX BUILDINGS.

MORE THAN HALF A MILLION SQUARE FEET.

Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates evaluated all six of our buildings, their systems and conditions - a total of 546,544 square feet - in the summer of 2026. They studied building and instructional capacity, heating and cooling, plumbing, fire protection, electrical, roofing, lighting, security and technology.

In total, Staunton's schools and facilities need up to $168 million in combined capital repairs and renovations. The majority of our schools have mechanical systems installed decades ago that have reached the end of their life cycle and could be highly disruptive to teaching and learning if they fail.

$168M

in unfunded capital costs to repair Staunton's schools

6 buildings

reviewed for capacity and system deficiencies

2,830

students, with growing enrollment in several schools

3 main priorities

a middle school renovation, adding classrooms at two elementary schools, and replacing old systems

A PLAN TO ADDRESS AGING BUILDINGS & SYSTEMS

The school division’s operating budget supports the day-to-day work of teaching and learning, including salaries, programs, transportation, utilities and supplies.

A Capital Improvement Plan, or CIP, is separate from the operating budget and identifies and prioritizes major, long-term investments in school buildings and infrastructure.

The facility study provides a vetted, comprehensive roadmap with clearly identified needs and costs, helping the school division develop priorities for an updated CIP.

All enrollment data as of Spring 2026.

The "required maintenance" and "comprehensive renovation" options outlined below are alternative approaches presented in the study. A comprehensive renovation includes any required maintenance work, and the cost estimates include those expenses.

Please note that the cost estimates are for planning purposes only, and the projects have not yet been put out for bid.

Before any project can proceed, its scope, design, costs, and funding must be developed and approved through the public processes of both the School Board and City Council. Additionally, all projects must undergo required state and local reviews, along with permitting and procurement, before construction can begin.

Shelburne Middle School (Priority Project)

The largest single project in the plan. A limited 2024 project created basement CTE and STEM classrooms and a secure administrative office suite. All other instructional spaces and classrooms were untouched. The HVAC dates to 1997–98, some below-slab piping is original to the building, and the school has no generator.

Required maintenance: $11M - $15.4M

Comprehensive renovation: $40.6M–$56.8M 
(includes 14 added classrooms, kitchen and auditorium/performing arts center)

Bessie Weller Elementary School (Priority Project)


Our oldest building with the fastest-growing student enrollment. Some below-slab sanitary piping is original to the 1952 building, and the site has a generator but no dedicated emergency power branch. Modular classrooms and a full systems replacement are recommended in the same year. A comprehensive renovation would add classrooms to meet instructional capacity needs.



Required maintenance: $10M-$13.9M

Comprehensive renovation: $22.9M–$32.1M



T.C. McSwain Elementary School (Priority Project)

Four temporary learning cottages house fourth grade this year because growing enrollment has strained capacity. The study recommends addressing the security vestibule and parking first, then the remaining mechanical systems. A comprehensive renovation would add classrooms to meet instructional capacity needs. 

Required maintenance: $15.9M-$22.3M

Comprehensive renovation: $18.9M–$26.4M

Dixon Educational Center


Home to our preschool program and to special education and student services staff. Since it has never been renovated, the building has numerous code deficiencies. Its piping is more than 60 years old, and most of its HVAC dates to 1972. These are high-priority systems to address in 2027–28.


Required maintenance: $7.2M-$10M

Comprehensive renovation: $17.2M–$20.6M

A.R. Ware Elementary School


Ware has classroom space available, but the HVAC installed around 2000 is nearly 30 years old, and its diesel fire pump and water heater are 21 years old. The study recommends enhancing the security vestibule first, then infrastructure and roofing, then lighting and HVAC. 

Required maintenance: $11.2M-$15.7M

Comprehensive renovation: $26.3M–$31.6M

Staunton High School

The high school is the division's newest facility, fully rebuilt in 2020, with only the auditorium and gym preserved. Its capital needs are the smallest by far: a dock roof extension, a track restroom and fieldhouse, and a roof recoat. Enrollment, however, has reached the building's functional capacity.

Required maintenance: $700K-$1M

Comprehensive renovation: Not needed at this time

Inside Shelburne Middle School

Hear from teachers and students about the building challenges impacting instruction and daily life at Shelburne Middle School.

The new state budget allows any county or city to ask voters to approve an extra local sales tax of up to 1%, used exclusively for school construction and renovation projects. Staunton City Council initiated a referendum on the 1% sales tax by unanimously passing a resolution in July.

Please see the Sales Tax Referendum for Schools page on the City of Staunton's website for information about how the 1% sales tax would work if passed. You can also view our fact sheet about the 1% sales tax.

This Q&A explains the proposed additional local sales tax and how it could address Staunton's school facility needs. Staunton City Schools provides this information to help residents understand the issue. The division does not advocate for or against the referendum.

1. What is the proposed 1 percent sales tax? 
   Virginia law allows a city or county to ask voters to approve an additional local sales tax of up to 1 percent for public school construction and major renovation. Staunton City Council has placed that question on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
   
2. Who would pay the additional tax? 
   Anyone who makes a taxable purchase in Staunton would pay it. That includes City residents and people who commute to, visit, or shop in Staunton. Purchases that are exempt from sales tax would not be affected.
   
3. What purchases would not be affected? 
   The additional tax would not apply to groceries for home consumption, essential personal hygiene products, prescription drugs and other purchases already exempt under Virginia law, including many services, separately stated repair labor, and most purely digital products.
   
4. What would the revenue pay for? 
   State law limits the revenue to public school capital projects, including construction of new school facilities, major renovation or modernization of existing schools, and eligible bond or loan costs for those projects.
   
5. What expenses would the revenue not cover? 
   The revenue would not pay for the school division's regular operating costs, including salaries and benefits, instructional materials and routine supplies, transportation, programs, routine maintenance or other general operating expenses.
   
6. Would the tax remain in place permanently? 
   No. Staunton's ballot question states that the expiration date is July 23, 2046. According to state law, the tax cannot remain in place for more than 20 years. Voters could be offered the opportunity to decide on it again after it expires.
   
7. Would the referendum approve specific school projects? 
   No. The referendum would decide whether the City may use this funding source. Each school project would still need a defined scope and cost, inclusion in the City's capital planning process, and approval by the School Board and City Council.
   
8. What school facility needs could the revenue address? 
   An independent facility study by Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates identified up to $168 million in unfunded school facility needs. These include a complete renovation of Shelburne Middle School, replacing aging building systems across the division, and adding space to address enrollment growth at McSwain and Bessie Weller elementary schools. The study identifies needs. It does not approve projects or spending.
   
9. How are school capital projects funded now? 
   The school division's operating budget pays for daily needs such as staff, instruction, transportation, utilities, and supplies. Major construction and renovation require separate capital funding. The School Board cannot levy taxes, and SCS has no recurring, dedicated capital funding source. The City may use general revenues, borrow money, adjust local taxes, including the real estate tax, or seek available state and federal grants or loans. Without the proposed sales tax, those would remain the available options.
   
10. Can Virginia Lottery funds pay for school construction? 
    Virginia Lottery proceeds support the school division's annual operating budget and generally are not available for major construction or renovation. Staunton City Schools received $3.2 million in Virginia Lottery proceeds for fiscal year 2026 through the state. That is about 6.7% of the division's operating budget.




LEARN MORE IN THE WEBINAR


Hear an overview of Staunton City Schools’ facility needs from Dr. Irizarry, including the findings of the independent facility study and how the proposed 1% sales tax would work. This is recorded audio from a family information session held on September 9, 2026.

View the presentation here.