Virginia County School Damage Estimate Could Reach $60 Million

Louisa County officials say it could cost up to $60 million to replace a high school and an elementary school damaged by last week’s earthquake.

Officials told a joint meeting of the School Board and county Board of Supervisors on Monday that it’s unclear whether Louisa County High School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School can be repaired or if they’ll need to be replaced. The two schools won’t reopen for the rest of the school year, and their students are attending schools in other buildings and classrooms.

The Daily Progress reports that Louisa County fire and rescue chief Scott Keim said at the meeting that damage to school buildings was at least $7 million above the schools’ insurance cap. He said estimated damage totals would climb in the coming weeks as assessments are finished.