Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind (language only)

Item 128 #2h

Language
Page 103, after line 15, insert:
"C.1. In order to provide improved services through up-to-date facilities as well as to achieve long-term cost savings, notwithstanding other provisions of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton and the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind, and Multi-disabled at Hampton shall be consolidated into one school upon completion of any renovations, additions, or new facility construction at a site as determined by the State Board of Education with assistance from the Department of General Services.
2.a. The State Board of Education, assisted by the Department of General Services, shall use a Public-Private Education Act (PPEA) proposal to plan and design the consolidation of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton and the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-disabled at Hampton into a single campus and the transfer of students, programs and services to a single campus, the selected and named location site of the consolidated campus of which shall be incorporated into a PPEA proposal that will be accepted, reviewed and adopted by the State Board of Education no later than July 31, 2006.
b. The State Board of Education, assisted by the Department of General Services, is authorized to enter into an agreement for construction of the new school at a total cost not to exceed $61.5 million and shall work in a collaborative manner to determine and submit a comprehensive plan for the consolidation that is within the designated amount of $61.5 million by October 1, 2006.
3. The Departments of Education and General Services shall provide a report on the final location selected by the State Board of Education and on the planning and construction process to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Education and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Finance and Education and Health by August 15, 2006.  At a minimum, the report shall address:
a. Revised cost estimates to complete the project within the allocated $61.5 million authorized in the PPEA and proposed timelines for construction of the new facility for consolidating services for the students served by Virginia’s two schools at Staunton and Hampton;
b. In cooperation with the Department of Planning and Budget, revised projected operating budgets for fiscal years 2007 through 2010, including any one-time transition costs;
c. The status of proposed mechanisms to assist school divisions with programs for children transferring into local school divisions rather than continuing enrollment at the new school location;
d. Detailed cost estimates of possible program enhancements, including specialized technology, expanding services to include deaf children with emotional disabilities."

Explanation
(This amendment provides the language to direct the State Board of Education to select a final site and final construction plans, by July 31, 2006, that will fit within the allocated $61.5 million in order to complete the consolidation plan of the schools for the deaf, blind and multi-disabled.)