Dear Cville Schools Community –
I’m writing to let you know that our division has this week submitted a federal application to acquire the 14-acre Federal Executive Institute (FEI) campus on Emmet St in order to house a centralized preschool and division administration offices. If approved, these uses would free up other CCS properties for expansion of the division’s alternative-education, special needs, and other instructional programming.

Crucially, if the division’s application is accepted, CCS would have the opportunity to acquire the property at a reduced or no cost through the Public Benefit Allowance discount for educational purposes. This opportunity represents a once-in-a-generation moment for our division—one that would allow us to expand our educational footprint in ways that are otherwise impossible given the space constraints in Charlottesville. 

This opportunity arose quickly following the recent closure of the FEI program by Executive Order, and I’m grateful for my staff, the School Board, and the leadership of the City of Charlottesville for moving swiftly to put in a strong application with the federal government. While this is still an “idea” and not yet a reality, I wanted to notify our community that we are pursuing this opportunity and believe it is the best course of action for Charlottesville’s students of today and tomorrow. 

PLANS FOR FEI
If the schools receive the property, we would use it for our planned preschool center and to unify our scattered division offices on one site. 

Preschool
Our plan has long been to house a centralized preschool on the Walker campus after a light renovation. If we acquire FEI, we will be able to create a preschool center that we can upgrade to best serve our youngest learners. 

The interior work to create a centralized preschool center at FEI could be done affordably since the hotel-style rooms there already have plumbing. There is even an aquatics area that we envision could become a splash pad! We would still plan to open the central preschool in August 2026. A longer-term vision is creating an ADA connector to join several FEI buildings into one while still preserving the historic integrity and landscape features of the campus. 

Division Administration, plus new Welcome Center and Space for Staff Training
Uniting our district offices at FEI, we would have increased communication and efficiency with all central office staff together. Furthermore, we would also be able to set aside space for a family welcome center, a dedicated room for Board meetings, and facilities for staff training.

CASCADING BENEFITS: Alternative ed, special education, more space at CHS
By freeing up space in these locations there would also be cascading benefits for other programs. The division is still in the early stages of planning, but school leaders have already identified the following possibilities:

• The Walker School site could become the new home of our high school alternative programming. This would increase the program’s space and enrollment – and the location would allow students access to CHS classes and programs nearby.
• The offices at the “CHS Annex” would become available to CHS for expanding instructional programming such as career and technical education. In addition, the entire CHS media center space could be fully used by the school since CCS Board meetings would move to the FEI.
• The central office building on Dairy Road could become a dedicated space to expand middle-grade alternative programming. Our developing program – New Pathways Academy – currently does not have a permanent location.
• The current high school alternative learning facility – Lugo-McGinness Academy, located near Trailblazer Elementary – could serve students with special needs.

Find the full release below – we are excited by the possibilities that this could hold for Charlottesville City Schools. As City manager Sam Sanders notes, it’s a “generational” opportunity. While the process is expedited, a timeline for decision-making has not been announced. If the division’s application is accepted, the next step is a more thorough review of the facilities and opportunities. We’ll keep you posted!

Dr. Gurley

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PRESS RELEASE

Media contact: Amanda Korman, community relations coordinator, cell: (434) 604-0049; email: kormana1@charlottesvilleschools.org

CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS APPLIES TO ACQUIRE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE INSTITUTE TO HOUSE PRESCHOOL AND FREE UP OTHER FACILITIES FOR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Wednesday, April 23, 2025—Charlottesville City Schools, in collaboration with the City of Charlottesville, submitted an application Monday to the U.S. Department of Education to acquire the Federal Executive Institute (FEI) campus to house a centralized preschool and division administration offices. These uses would free up other CCS properties for expansion of the division’s alternative-education programming and programs to serve students with special needs.

In mid-March, the schools learned that the 14-acre Federal Executive Institute (FEI) site at 1201 Emmet St. N in the City of Charlottesville was available for acquisition by an educational institution within the City, via the Federal Real Property Assistance Program (FRPAP). If the division’s application is accepted, CCS would have the opportunity to acquire the property at a reduced or no cost through the Public Benefit Allowance discount for educational purposes.

“This single opportunity offers a cost-effective way to impact young people in Charlottesville from age 3 through graduation,” said Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley. “From our preschool to a family welcome center to alternative learning programs, this acquisition would allow us to make powerful changes on an accelerated timeline.”

City Manager Sam Sanders added, “The unexpected availability of this property creates a generational opportunity for the schools to advance and expand programming serving students and families.”

Using funds already allocated by the City for the consolidation of the preschool from six separate sites into one, CCS would 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 would 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 early-intervention services for preschoolers such as speech and physical therapy.

CCS would also centralize all of its administrative offices on the campus of FEI. This consolidation would substantially improve efficiency and communication among departments which, due to space constraints, currently operate out of several sites. At FEI, CCS would 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 would be that CCS could 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 would become 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 media center would become usable space for CHS students.

Dr. Gurley concluded, “This opportunity arose quickly following the recent closure of the FEI program by Executive Order, and I’m grateful for my staff, the School Board, and the leadership of the City of Charlottesville for moving swiftly to put in a strong application.”

While the federal government is expediting the process of transferring the FEI campus, there is no fixed timeline for announcing the decision. If the division’s application is accepted, the next step is a more thorough review of the facilities and opportunities. 

Learn more about the Charlottesville City Schools at www.charlottesvilleschools.org. Our address is 1562 Dairy Road, Charlottesville, VA, 22903. Phone: (434) 245-2400. Fax: (434) 245-2603.