Dear Cville Schools community –

I’m proud to announce that CCS has received approval from the U.S. Department of Education to acquire the Federal Executive Institute facility at no cost. 

On behalf of all of our students, we are delighted by this news. This property will allow us to expedite and advance student programs – from preschool to alternative learning to expanded educational programming at CHS – that will benefit the entire school system and community. 

I also want to thank the City – particularly City Manager Sam Sanders, for strong and nimble leadership in a fast-moving application process.

As you know, this opportunity arose quickly, so there is still much to be determined and planned. But as our Chief Operations Officer Kim Powell notes in the below press release, we are eager and prepared to execute.

Dr. G

Full Press Release

CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS APPROVED TO ACQUIRE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE INSTITUTE AT NO COST

U.S Department of Education Approves Division’s Application to Use 14-Acre Property for Centralized Preschool, Administrative Offices

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Wednesday, April 30, 2025—Today Charlottesville City Schools received notification that the U.S. Department of Education approved the division’s application to acquire the Federal Executive Institute (FEI). Because the property will serve an educational purpose, the division will be granted a Public Benefit Allowance discount of 100 percent, acquiring FEI through the Federal Real Property Assistance Program at no cost.

“On behalf of all of our students, we are delighted by this news,” stated Superintendent Dr. Royal A. Gurley, Jr. “This property will allow us to expedite and advance student programs – from preschool to alternative learning to expanded educational programming at CHS – that will benefit the entire school system and community. I also want to thank the City – particularly City Manager Sam Sanders, for strong and nimble leadership in a fast-moving application process.”

According to the notification from the U.S. Department of Education, the application’s approval is “based on the condition and requirement that a clear majority of the property is used consistently for PreK classroom use with administrative use secondary.” This requirement aligns with Charlottesville City Schools’ plans. Moving preschool and administrative offices to FEI will furthermore free up other CCS properties for the expansion of the division’s alternative-education programming and programs to serve students with special needs.

“Opportunities that benefit our schools are also a benefit to the entire community and our future of the City of Charlottesville,” said City Manager Sam Sanders. “The acquisition of this property by the schools is truly a generational win. We want to thank the federal employees who have been guiding us through this process, and we appreciate this vote of confidence that we will be good stewards of this campus.”

Next steps include a more thorough review of the facilities and the finalization of the agreement with the U.S. Department of Education. Staff who will maintain the campus will move on site soon after the property transfer is complete, and division administration staff will start moving over in phases soon thereafter. Planning and design for the centralized preschool, slated to open in Fall 2026, will begin immediately.

Using $30 million already allocated by the City for the consolidation of the preschool from six separate sites into one, CCS will make interior renovations at the FEI to create classroom spaces with connected restrooms to allow for the preschool to open on schedule in August 2026. In the future, CCS will also add an ADA connector to join several existing FEI buildings while preserving the historic integrity and landscape features of the campus. With full fencing, no visibility from the road, and a pool that could be converted into a play space or splash pad, the grounds of FEI are well-suited to outdoor play for our youngest learners. Additionally, the facilities have space for dedicated early-intervention services for preschoolers such as speech and physical therapy.

“Following the fast pace of the federal application process, it will take some time to build out these plans, but we are eager and prepared to execute,” added Kim Powell, Chief Operations Officer of Charlottesville City Schools. “This was a rare moment when opportunity, need, and the ability to act quickly all aligned.” 

CCS will also centralize all of its administrative offices on the campus of FEI. This consolidation will substantially improve efficiency and communication among departments which, due to space constraints, currently operate out of several sites. At FEI, CCS will also be able to open a family welcome center, create dedicated staff training facilities, and establish space for School Board and other public meetings.

The substantial additional benefit of acquiring FEI will be that CCS can expand its in-demand alternative education and special-needs programs. The division is still in the early stages of planning, but school leaders have already identified the following possibilities:

• The campus where CCS has planned to house the centralized preschool (the current Walker Upper Elementary School on Dairy Road) could become the new, expanded home of its alternative high school, Lugo-McGinness Academy (LMA). The adjacent building on Dairy Road that currently houses central administrative offices could become the home of the alternative middle school, New Pathways Academy (NPA). Moving LMA and NPA to the Dairy Road site would eliminate student wait lists for these in-demand programs and enable alternative education students to easily access programs and activities at CHS nearby. 

• Space freed up at LMA’s current site on 11th St. NW (adjacent to Trailblazer Elementary) could become available to serve students with special needs.

• The area of Charlottesville High School that currently houses additional administrative offices becomes available for the expansion of instructional programs including possible specialized classrooms for coursework in career and technical education. The School Board meeting area in the CHS media center would become usable space for CHS students.

CCS has reached out to federal officials to ascertain the next steps and timeline.