APPOMATTOX COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — The Virginia Board of Education has granted Appomattox County Public Schools (ACPS) a School Construction Assistance Grant worth $4.5 million.

This grant, awarded on May 11, comes as part of the statewide initiative to support school construction projects, with Appomattox being one of the 45 recipients. The Virginia Public School Construction grants are the outcome of the School Construction Assistance Program, established by Governor Glenn Youngkin during the 2022 Special Session I General Assembly, which provides a total of $450 million in state funds for fiscal year 2023. These funds aim to facilitate competitive grants for new school construction, additions, and major building renovations.

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Annette Bennett, the Division Superintendent, expressed her enthusiasm regarding ACPS’s successful application for the grant, which was submitted in March 2023 to aid the renovation of Appomattox County High School.

“We are thrilled to have had our application accepted for this funding. It could not have come at a better time,” stated Bennett.

Appomattox County High School (ACHS), constructed in 1974, has been the subject of building improvement initiatives by the county and schools. In April 2020, Jamerson Lewis Construction presented an unsolicited proposal to renovate and expand ACHS. Subsequently, in May 2021, the county and schools joined forces to commence a collaborative project aimed at upgrading the school’s HVAC system. This undertaking also involved the construction of a 21,000-square-foot addition to accommodate 13 new classrooms, a modern administrative and guidance area, as well as a secure public entrance to the building. Additionally, ACPS managed to allocate some of the project’s cost savings toward renovating the cafeteria and library spaces.

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“We are so grateful that the state has recognized the financial need of localities like ours for improvements to aging school facilities”, said Dr. Bennett, “And we couldn’t be more excited to accept this additional grant funding which will go a long way in our efforts to renovate our high school.”

Taking advantage of construction funds allotted to public schools in the 2022-2023 state budget by Governor Youngkin, the schools embarked on the renovation of several other classrooms within the original building earlier this year, in January. This initiative further contributes to the overall improvement of educational facilities within Appomattox County Public Schools.