Warren County Schools Outlines Fast-Track Plan for E. Wilson Morrison Structural Investigation

Warren County Public Schools is moving toward selecting an engineering firm to investigate the structural problems that forced E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School to close in August.

During the Warren County School Board’s November 4, 2026, meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Charles Costner outlined an accelerated schedule that could allow the division to secure funding and approve an engineering contract by November 18.

The proposed timeline includes a possible special School Board meeting on November 11, a funding request to the Warren County Board of Supervisors on November 17, and final consideration of an engineering firm on November 18.

However, Costner emphasized that each step depends on successfully completing the previous one and complying with Virginia’s public procurement requirements.

The goal is to move quickly while ensuring the division follows the law.

Seven Engineering Firms Attend School Walkthrough

Costner began by reviewing the process for preparing and advertising the Request for Proposals (RFP) for forensic structural engineering services.

The division’s building committee reviewed the proposed RFP on October 6.

The School Board approved the draft on October 7, and the division sent the document to its attorneys for review on October 12.

Following that review, the RFP was issued through Virginia’s eVA procurement system on October 16.

The solicitation seeks an independent engineering firm to investigate structural distress at the school, including exterior walls that appear to have shifted out of alignment and displacement involving portions of the second-floor walls.

The selected firm will be expected to determine the probable causes, evaluate their structural significance, and recommend possible repair or stabilization options.

As part of the procurement process, interested engineering firms were offered an opportunity to tour the building.

Costner reported that approximately seven firms participated.

The walkthrough was voluntary, and firms were not required to attend to submit a proposal.

The deadline for submitting proposals is Thursday, November 5, at 2 p.m.

An Independent Evaluation Before Selecting a Firm

Once the division receives the proposals, an evaluation committee will review them using the criteria established in the RFP.

Costner explained that committee members will independently evaluate the submissions before identifying the firms that best meet the division’s requirements.

The selection process must comply with the Virginia Public Procurement Act, which establishes procedures for acquiring professional services such as engineering.

But identifying a qualified firm is only part of the process.

The school division must also secure funding before entering into a contract.

That adds a step because the School Board cannot independently appropriate the county funding needed for the work.

Special November 11 Meeting Could Start Funding Process

To avoid unnecessary delays, Costner presented a proposed sequence of meetings that would move the project forward as quickly as possible.

The first step would be a specially called School Board meeting on Wednesday, November 11.

At that meeting, administrators hope to present the anticipated cost of the engineering services based on the proposals received.

Costner explained that the board would not yet be selecting a specific firm.

Instead, the administration would seek authorization for the superintendent to request funding from the Board of Supervisors.

That authorization would establish a maximum amount the superintendent could request.

“We’re going to try to expedite this as fast as we can, but do it in a legal manner,” Costner told the board.

The funding request would be based on the proposals and the evaluation committee’s findings.

The exact amount was not available during the November 4 presentation because the submission deadline had not yet passed.

Costner indicated that the proposed special meeting would be considered as a separate action item during the evening’s meeting.

November 17 Funding Request, November 18 Contract Approval

If the School Board authorizes the superintendent to seek funding on November 11, the next proposed step would take place at the Warren County Board of Supervisors’ November 17 meeting.

The superintendent would request an appropriation sufficient to cover the anticipated engineering contract.

If the supervisors approve the funding, the School Board could then consider a specific engineering firm and contract amount on November 18.

That would allow the selected firm to begin the investigation once the necessary contracting requirements are satisfied.

Costner stressed that the schedule represents the fastest anticipated route through the required approvals, not a guarantee that each step will occur on those dates.

The process remains dependent on the proposals received, the evaluation committee’s work, and decisions by both governing boards.

Structural Problems Have Kept School Closed Since August

Wilson Morrison Elementary School has remained closed since August 22 after structural concerns prompted an emergency response by school officials.

The initial discovery came after missing bricks near the building’s entrance led to closer examination of the structure.

Subsequent engineering observations identified movement involving portions of the building’s exterior masonry walls.

Students and staff were relocated to other schools while the division worked to determine the extent of the damage and evaluate long-term options.

The closure has created considerable disruption for families, teachers, and administrators.

It has also raised questions about whether the aging school can be repaired, what those repairs might cost, and how the division should accommodate displaced students.

During an October 21 meeting, School Board members questioned a separate $170,150 proposal from LCW Construction to stabilize portions of the building so staff could safely retrieve classroom materials and personal belongings.

The board did not approve that stabilization proposal at the time, instead requesting additional information about the work and potential alternatives.

The forensic engineering investigation discussed November 4 is a separate procurement intended to provide a more complete understanding of the building’s structural condition.

Engineering Findings Will Help Guide Future Decisions

Although the School Board is working to expedite the engineering contract, the investigation itself will not immediately resolve the school’s future.

Its purpose is to identify what is happening to the building, determine the likely causes, and recommend possible repairs or stabilization.

Those findings will give school officials important information as they consider the cost, feasibility, and safety of restoring the building.

Until that work is completed, major questions remain unanswered.

The school division must also continue addressing the educational and logistical challenges created by the students’ relocation.

For now, the immediate priority is selecting an independent engineering firm that can provide the detailed assessment needed to support future decisions.

If the proposed schedule proceeds without delays, the School Board could have an engineering firm under contract before Thanksgiving.

But the November 4 update made clear that the goal is not simply to move fast.

It is to obtain the information necessary to make a responsible decision about E. Wilson Morrison’s future while meeting the legal requirements for spending public funds.

Watch the Warren County School Board Meeting of November 4, 2026.