By Charlotte Matherly, contributor
Rockingham County Public Schools is pursuing $168 million in building projects through 2030 — including middle and high school expansions, renovations and a potential new elementary school.
Superintendent Larry Shifflett’s proposed Capital Improvement Plan, which spans from 2026 to 2030, is focused on what he pitched as a need to update older schools and account for expected population growth in Rockingham County.
These projects, on which he presents a yearly update to the board, must be approved by the county’s Board of Supervisors and will be staggered over the next six years.
“There is a limited amount of funds, and then they can only go out to so much debt at a certain time,” Shifflett said, “so we try to pace ourselves and not take on too many projects at one given time.”
During discussion, board chair Matt Cross said he was concerned about the county’s population growth and the increased traffic, redistricting and tax burden that could come with an influx of people.
“I think all county residents should be really concerned about how much development is happening within our county,” Cross said.
Shifflett said the county school system will at some point need a new elementary school closer to the Harrisonburg city limits because of expected population growth in certain parts of the county.
Cross said he’s worried about putting a new school on the city-county line and that RCPS may eventually have to redraw district lines to best use all of its space.
“I think it’s our job to be fiscally responsible with the taxpayer money and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got a lot of room here on the east end that we could possibly use,’” Cross said, “and it’s not because we want to, but really have kind of been forced that way to do that.”
Here are the other planned projects:
- Elkton Elementary School renovation ($22.6 million) — Older parts of the school, built in 1939 and 1972, are operating on 50-year-old heating, cooling and venting systems. It also needs asbestos treatment and renovations to its kitchen, windows and electric circuits. This project is already underway and expected to finish in August 2026.
- Pleasant Valley Elementary School additions ($9 million) — Shifflett proposed adding nine new classrooms to increase the school’s capacity by 123 students, totaling 500, to accommodate growth in the school’s attendance area. It’s earmarked for fiscal year 2027-28.
- McGaheysville Elementary School renovation ($12.3 million) — Part of the building erected in 1969 has an HVAC system that’s over 50 years old. Like Elkton Elementary, it needs asbestos abatement and renovations for the kitchen, windows and electric circuits. Shifflett said he’s also looking into whether it’s feasible or necessary to add more classrooms. It’s supposed to be completed in September 2027.
- Massanutten Technical Center additions and renovations ($28.1 million) — The facility, shared by the county school district and Harrisonburg City Public Schools, is due for renovations and will need some additions for new programs, although Shifflett didn’t specify which ones. While the two districts share responsibility for the center, Rockingham County schools would be on the hook for 80% of the cost. It’s set to complete in September 2028.
- Elkton Middle School expansion ($26 million) — To accommodate redistricting, Shifflett said RCPS will need to expand the middle school and increase its capacity, which is currently just 40 students under the cap. It’s one of the later projects, expected to complete in September 2029.
- Spotswood High School expansion ($70 million) — Population growth and the age of the building call for both an expansion and renovation. The high school needs an updated HVAC system, windows, doors and asbestos abatement. Shifflett said he also wants to bring its capacity up by around 200 to catch up with the other high schools. This one is set to finish in September 2030.
Shifflett also added that the district is still seeking a site for an agricultural land lab, where it would host courses to help students learn about farming and agricultural production and industry. The school board has expressed support for the project but has yet to nail down a location.
Also at Monday’s meeting:
The school board returned one temporarily banned book to library shelves in tandem with the recommendation of its Content Review Committee. Board members reinstated “Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale” by Lauren Myracle in a unanimous vote, which has been uncommon for the board’s decisions on books. Seven of the 12 books permanently banned from Rockingham County schools thus far have been removed against the committee’s recommendation.
Next year’s budget process is officially underway, with Chief Financial Officer Justin Moyers laying out the five-month timeline for the school board to draft, review and vote on a budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The first public hearing, where the board will receive community input on the budget, is scheduled for January, once all departments have had a chance to put in their spending requests.
A senior from Broadway High School also addressed the board during public comment and asked for leniency on the new cell phone policy. He said he’s on his third strike for phone use in school for various reasons: a family emergency, communicating with his boss and communicating with a teacher for his online classes.
“We’re not asking for unlimited use, but rather for a more reasonable policy that reflects the specific demands of upperclassmen, allowing phone access in non-disruptable situations like study hall or lunch periods could provide us with needs without compromising the focus and integrity of the classroom environment,” the student said.
In response, Cross defended the new policy and said parents, bosses and other people shouldn’t communicate via text or call with students during the school day. Instead, he said, they should call the school and ask for a message to be delivered if necessary.
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