Charles City School Board Special Meeting Monday (02.23) Night to Discuss High School Improvements

In November, a $30 million bond referendum for sweeping renovations and improvements to Charles City High School (CCHS) failed to pass.

The measure needed a 60% supermajority YES vote to pass, but only received 46% YES votes to 54% NO votes. That came in the wake of a $28 million bond referendum that failed in November 2024. Either bond would have made significant changes to a high school built over 65 years ago.

In the wake of the latest bond defeat, school officials will turn to smaller scale approaches with the $4 million in School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds approved last March. How those funds could be spent will be the focus of School Board meetings Monday (02.23) night.

At 5:30 pm in the High School Library, the Board will host a work session to discuss expenditure options proposed by FEH Design and MODUS. That will be followed by a special meeting at 6:15 pm in which the Board could approve implementation of the MODUS/FEH plan laid out in two phases in the CCHS “Mechanical and Electrical Building Assessment Summary.”

Phase 1 calls for about $960,000 that would address, among other items, adding air conditioning in each classroom, improvements in the Art area, upgrades to the fire alarm system and exit lighting. Phase 1 would seek bids this spring, with construction this summer.

Phase 2 proposes over $3.2 million for HVAC upgrades across the entire building, including the infamous “circles,” gymnasium, cafeteria and kitchen at the High School, plus a wrestling room upgrade at the Middle School. Bids for Phase 2 would be sought this fall with construction in 2027.

A link to the proposal is included with this story on our station website.