A school modernization project will be voted on November 8th when Albemarle County residents hit the polls. The $35 million dollar project is under the title of the “Bond Referendum” and covers everything from newer furniture, to controlled entrances at the five remaining schools that need them.

Broken up into four different “Projects,” the referendum includes a new addition to Woodbrook Elementary, Western Albemarle science lab upgrades, learning space modernization, and school security improvements.

As for Western, the bond comes with a promise of three new science labs, and modernizations to fix the seven that haven’t been worked on since the building of the school, almost 40 years ago. This would benefit the growth of the ESA, the newest addition to Western Albemarle.
“There has been very little renovation for most of our classrooms since the school was built,” says ESA director Adam Mulcahy. “It’s been mostly for paint and furniture.” The additional labs would be a welcome addition.

One of the biggest concerns is overcrowding in the county schools, and the projected growth that they expect. For Woodbrook, this means the construction of a second floor, 16 new classrooms, and a new Gymnasium, almost half the budget.

“The northern feeder pattern is one of the fastest growing areas of the county,” says Woodbrook principal Lisa Molinaro. “Our class sizes range anywhere from [a teacher student ratio of] 1:26 in the 5th grade, to 1:16 for Kindergarten… we’re a very transient school.”

This is the first time in a long while that a Bond Referendum has been offered to county voters. The last? The decision to build Western Albemarle. So while this certainly isn’t the only topic on the ballot this November, it is definitely one to be considered.