Local group proposes vocational charter school using renovated county buildings

A group of Lancaster County residents outlined plans Wednesday to form a trades-focused school and said they plan to pursue a public charter school model under Virginia law rather than operate as a private school.

Carl Failsker, speaking for a group of local residents, described a revised plan to renovate the Brookvale or Lancaster Primary School building using student labor supervised by licensed tradespeople. He said the group voted to pursue a charter model to incorporate school administrative expertise and said they do not intend to ask the Lancaster County Board of Supervisors for direct funding; their present request to the board was limited to use of the building.

Failsker said the program would prepare students to take trade certification exams and obtain field experience to work toward licenses as electricians, plumbers and carpenters. He stated the group has access to retired contractors and skilled trades workers for supervision and hoped to obtain donated materials from manufacturers. "We do still expect and hope to get free materials from the manufacturers, and again, use free student labor with skilled experts overseeing them," Failsker said.

Board members asked whether the group had talked with the school superintendent and how maintenance, insurance and administrative oversight would be handled; Failsker replied he had not yet spoken to the superintendent but said the new charter approach is intended to incorporate school administrators. He acknowledged many details remain under development and described the proposal as a longer-term effort.

The board received the presentation as public comment; no board action was taken. Failsker said the group intends to approach the Lancaster County School Board and other partners next.