Two Petersburg elementary schools will receive U.S. stimulus funds for expansions

Two Petersburg elementary schools will receive federal stimulus money for school renovation and expansion projects, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced yesterday.

Robert E. Lee Elementary School will receive $6.4 million and Walnut Hill Elementary School will receive $5.8 million in no-interest construction bonds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Kaine announced a total of $71.6 million in bonds for eight projects throughout Virginia.

"Some of these projects have waited over a year for financing, and I'm glad they will move forward with funding from the Recovery Act," Kaine said in a statement. "I am certain that this funding will ease some of the need in these communities by creating jobs and improving learning environments for our children."

Yesterday's announcement was the first allotment from nearly $191 million authorized for Virginia through the Qualified School Construction Bonds established by the stimulus act.

The schools selected to receive the bonds were on the state Literary Fund's first priority waiting list. Robert E. Lee and Walnut Hill were put on the list in July 2008. The bonds are expected to be sold next month.

A spokesman for Petersburg schools said the district was glad to hear the news.

"So the improvements continue, because we believe our children deserve a world-class learning environment," said Cliff Davis, the school system's public relations officer. "We will start the process once the funding is released to us by the state and city."

Earlier this year, Petersburg completed renovation projects at A.P. Hill Elementary and J.E.B. Stuart Elementary schools, which cost nearly $9 million.

The work at Robert E. Lee and Walnut Hill will consist of expansion and renovations at the schools, which were built more than 57 years ago.

Robert E. Lee was built in 1962, with an addition built in 1978. The new expansion will add a media center, two computer labs, classrooms and a multipurpose room. The renovations will convert the existing library into new resource spaces and add two handicap-accessible toilets.

Walnut Hill was built in 1952, with additions in 1954, 1959 and 1967. The expansion work will include a kitchen, dining room and a multipurpose room, while renovation work includes reconfiguring classrooms and providing new mechanical and lighting systems.

There were 32 projects statewide listed on the Literary Fund's waiting list, totaling about $191 million; however, some were not eligible for the stimulus money because they did not meet federal guidelines.

Kaine will announce the use of the remaining $120 million this fall.

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or .