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Fairfax County Public Schools faces a $394.5 million maintenance backlog that includes persistent mold, overflowing bathrooms and widespread heating and cooling needs—and officials expect the price tag to climb.

The mounting repairs and delayed renovations dominated the Fairfax County School Board’s Jan. 13 discussion and public hearing on the proposed Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

The six-year plan is approved annually, although money is allocated one year at a time. Fiscal year 2027 begins July 1.

The maintenance backlog is projected to grow by $52.8 million next fiscal year and by $237 million over the next five fiscal years. Erik Gordon, FCPS chief of facilities services and capital programs, warned that an assessment being conducted by consulting firm AECOM could uncover even greater needs.

“I fully anticipate that that number will go up,” Gordon said.

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning upgrades account for roughly 60% of the existing backlog and about 62% of the maintenance needs projected over the next five years.

Centreville renovation pushed back

Centreville High School employee Kimberly Adams told the board that the school’s long-awaited renovation has appeared in the capital plan since at least 2018. Staff members had been told construction would begin last year, but the start is now scheduled for 2028.

Adams said the anticipated renovation has also prevented other maintenance and remodeling requests from advancing.

“We are faced with a three-year further delay after over three years of being told that we shouldn’t be able to get anything replaced or remodeled because this renovation was coming,” she said.

Centreville ranked 51st in the renovation queue approved by the board in 2008. FCPS aims to renovate schools every 20 to 25 years, but the cycle has stretched to 43 years because of current and projected construction costs, according to the draft capital plan.

As of January 2026, renovations had been completed at 43 of the 63 schools in that queue. Eight schools were under construction, two were in permitting, nine had bond approval but were awaiting funding, and one had neither bond approval nor renovation funding.

Current projections indicate that every school in the 2008 queue will receive funding for planning, design or construction by fiscal year 2031.

Centreville is among 10 schools scheduled for planning and design work during the next five years. It is also one of two expected to begin construction during that period.

Officials prepare a new renovation list

With the end of the existing queue approaching, FCPS staff members are developing a new priority list using updated criteria and an ongoing assessment of building conditions.

Gordon said the notice to proceed was issued in December 2025 and the process had entered its second phase, including physical inspections of school facilities. The next milestone will be completing those assessments and creating a framework for the new renovation queue.

Hunter Mill District board member Melanie Meren called for greater urgency, even if addressing building conditions requires shifting funds.

“I think it’s a major priority that our school division has money for where people learn and work,” Meren said. “We don’t need more reports. We need action steps.”

Changes from last year’s capital plan include updated construction estimates reflecting inflation, the acquisition and planned renovation of the western high school, and construction of new elementary schools in Dunn Loring and near the Silver Line.

Projects planned over the next five years are estimated to cost $1.1 billion. Of that amount, $505 million has been approved through bond referendums. Over 10 years, FCPS expects to need about $1.6 billion for all planned projects, with only $515 million approved so far.

Board members also praised continued work on a five-phase effort to install security vestibules at schools. The project is now in its third phase.

“I think that is a wonderful, wonderful plan,” Mason District board member Ricardy Anderson said.

The School Board is expected to vote on the capital proposal by Feb. 12. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to release the county’s capital plan later in February as part of County Executive Bryan Hill’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget.