CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Albemarle County’s Lambs Lane campus construction won’t be complete in time for the start of the school year, forcing the division to find an alternative space for students attending the ACE Academy.
Those students will begin their school year attending classes at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia’s Albemarle Campus located on Lambs Ln., Albemarle County Public Schools announced on Friday.
ACPS director of building services Matt Wertman has previously said in a July 8 project update released by ACPS that staff was working on contingency plans if the building was not ready to open the first day of school.
“Our contractor has had a number of setbacks that have made it clear we are on a razor-thin line as to whether the contractor can meet the deadline for opening on the first day of school,” Matt Wertman said. “We continue to work with the contractor and will do all in our power to make certain the facility is open to students on day one.”
Despite significant progress on the ACEL facility over the summer, the school building will not be ready by the first day of classes on Aug. 12.
However, the Boys & Girls Club has agreed to allow ACPS to use their facility as construction continues.
“We are deeply grateful to the Boys & Girls Club for opening their doors to our students,” Acting Superintendent Dr. Chandra Hayes said in a statement. “This is exactly what community partnership looks like, neighbors stepping up so our students can begin the year strong. Because of their generosity, our students can move forward with confidence, knowing that the quality of instruction and our students’ schedules will not be compromised.”
Under this plan, instructional classes will be held at the Boys & Girls Club’s facility on the Lambs Lane Campus. Lunch will be held at Albemarle High School, and pick-up will be held using established traffic patterns at Albemarle. Students and families will maintain the same drop-off and pick-up schedule, and the location allows for an easy transition to the new building once it is completed.
The district anticipates maintaining this schedule for approximately the first three weeks of school. The duration remains flexible and depends on the contractor’s progress toward making the new building ready for occupancy.
“This is not the beginning any of us envisioned, but it does provide us with our very first opportunity to model the transferable skills we value at ACEL, like adaptability, collaboration, and a willingness to embrace challenges with optimism,” Principal Stephanie Carter said in a statement.
ACPS will continue to use all available legal and contractual means to move the school facility to completion as quickly as possible. However, ACPS is activating this contingency plan now so families and staff have time to prepare for the start of the year.
