When local voters go to the polls in November to choose various political representatives, they'll also be asked to vote on a school-bond referendum. And among the money proposed in that package is $1 million to renovate Clifton Elementary.
"It'll be a complete renovation of the building," said Gary Chevalier, director of Fairfax County Public Schools’ Facilities Planning Services. "They'll walk away from it thinking they have a new building."
This initial funding will pay for the architectural and engineering drawings to design the renovation. Later on, money needed for construction will be placed in a subsequent bond referendum.
Chevalier said there's no estimate, yet, of the total project cost. That will be done at the time of the bond referendum for the construction funds. He figures these dollars will probably be in the 2007 school bond. But this first step, he said, "will get us the design and get us ready to go to permit, and so on."
Clifton Elementary opened in 1952, so its renovation is well-earned and much-needed. The location of the office will be reviewed from a security standpoint, and planners will also look at the school's media center, mechanical systems (heating and air conditioning), windows and roof to see what work needs to be done.
Meanwhile, some improvements were made this past summer. The original part of the building — the front hallway, the main office and some classrooms — received a new air conditioning system. And all the carpeting was replaced by tile floors.
But much more work remains, and that's where the renovation comes in. The entire school must also be brought up to "current, state building codes and education specs," said Chevalier. "It's about as extensive a renovation as you can do without knocking the building down and starting over."
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs
<pc>Bonnie Hobbs/Centre View
<cl>Clifton Elementary School opened in 1952.
<36hd>
Voters to Decide on $1M
In School Bond for Clifton
<bt>When local voters go to the polls in November to choose various political representatives, they'll also be asked to vote on a school-bond referendum. And among the money proposed in that package is $1 million to renovate Clifton Elementary.
"It'll be a complete renovation of the building," said Gary Chevalier, director of Fairfax County Public Schools’ Facilities Planning Services. "They'll walk away from it thinking they have a new building."
This initial funding will pay for the architectural and engineering drawings to design the renovation. Later on, money needed for construction will be placed in a subsequent bond referendum.
Chevalier said there's no estimate, yet, of the total project cost. That will be done at the time of the bond referendum for the construction funds. He figures these dollars will probably be in the 2007 school bond. But this first step, he said, "will get us the design and get us ready to go to permit, and so on."
Clifton Elementary opened in 1952, so its renovation is well-earned and much-needed. The location of the office will be reviewed from a security standpoint, and planners will also look at the school's media center, mechanical systems (heating and air conditioning), windows and roof to see what work needs to be done.
Meanwhile, some improvements were made this past summer. The original part of the building — the front hallway, the main office and some classrooms — received a new air conditioning system. And all the carpeting was replaced by tile floors.
But much more work remains, and that's where the renovation comes in. The entire school must also be brought up to "current, state building codes and education specs," said Chevalier. "It's about as extensive a renovation as you can do without knocking the building down and starting over."
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs
<pc>Bonnie Hobbs/Centre View
<cl>Clifton Elementary School opened in 1952.
<36hd>
Voters to Decide on $1M
In School Bond for Clifton
<bt>When local voters go to the polls in November to choose various political representatives, they'll also be asked to vote on a school-bond referendum. And among the money proposed in that package is $1 million to renovate Clifton Elementary.
"It'll be a complete renovation of the building," said Gary Chevalier, director of Fairfax County Public Schools’ Facilities Planning Services. "They'll walk away from it thinking they have a new building."
This initial funding will pay for the architectural and engineering drawings to design the renovation. Later on, money needed for construction will be placed in a subsequent bond referendum.
Chevalier said there's no estimate, yet, of the total project cost. That will be done at the time of the bond referendum for the construction funds. He figures these dollars will probably be in the 2007 school bond. But this first step, he said, "will get us the design and get us ready to go to permit, and so on."
Clifton Elementary opened in 1952, so its renovation is well-earned and much-needed. The location of the office will be reviewed from a security standpoint, and planners will also look at the school's media center, mechanical systems (heating and air conditioning), windows and roof to see what work needs to be done.
Meanwhile, some improvements were made this past summer. The original part of the building — the front hallway, the main office and some classrooms — received a new air conditioning system. And all the carpeting was replaced by tile floors.
But much more work remains, and that's where the renovation comes in. The entire school must also be brought up to "current, state building codes and education specs," said Chevalier. "It's about as extensive a renovation as you can do without knocking the building down and starting over."
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs