Gloucester schools present CIP needs including roofs, HVAC, bus replacements and a $200,000 fire‑system estimate

Mister Hartley presented the school division’s capital improvement plan, showing photos and cost priorities for this year and the near future. He said roof warranties are expiring on several buildings and recommended roof replacements be on the CIP; soffit and brick work at the Thomas Calhoun Walker Education Center was highlighted as an urgent structural and aesthetic concern.

Hartley said HVAC equipment follows an approximate 15‑ to 17‑year ASHRAE replacement rhythm and will remain a recurring CIP item. He identified a new submission to replace the fire‑alarm wiring and some panels at Body Todd Elementary and estimated full replacement costs for that system at about $200,000.

Other recurring needs include bus replacement (the division uses a 15‑year/200,000‑mile standard), casework updates (estimated per‑linear‑foot), marquee signs and gym floor refinishing (about $50,000 per gym). Large‑scale projects under discussion include refinishing the high‑school track and a turf field as part of a GHS sports complex and renovation of the 1973 wing at Body Todd, which would require ADA upgrades and potentially sprinklers.

Board members pressed on the fire system’s age and urgency; Hartley said the existing panel was functioning after a recent repair but the wiring and portions of the system are old and need replacement. The update was received for discussion.