School Construction Report

November 10, 2004

Goal 2008: WCPSS is committed to academic excellence. By 2008, 95 percent of students in grades 3 through 12 will be at or above grade level as measured by the State of North Carolina End-of-Grade or Course tests, and all student groups will demonstrate high growth.

BOARD APPROVES EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CLASSROOM SPACE FOR 2005-06
At its Nov 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved staff recommendations to provide additional classroom space for more than 5,000 students for 2005-06. Associate Superintendent Don Haydon told the board the administration is working to:

The estimated total cost (capital and operating lease) is $31.1 million, of which $10.2 million is available in the PLAN 2004 school construction program. School officials are discussing funding needs with the county. Board of Education members and County Commissioners will discuss the funding needs at their monthly luncheon next week.

The current proposal includes negotiations with the DuBois Foundation and Magellan Charter School. If those talks are fruitful, the school system will not have to locate modular schools on the campuses of Wildwood Forest Elementary and East Millbrook Middle as proposed earlier.

The demand for space resulted from higher than expected student enrollment and state requirements for class size reductions at third grade. School administrators project classroom space will be needed for an additional 5,900 students.

BOARD APPROVES REALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR MOBILE CLASSROOMS
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved reallocation of project savings of $6.5 million from various PLAN 2000 projects to the PLAN 2000 Mobile Classrooms project.

BOARD APPROVES DESIGN FOR LONGVIEW SCHOOL
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved the schematic design documents prepared by Gurel Architecture for the construction of a new addition and renovations for Longview School. The PLAN 2000 school construction program will fund the project.

BOARD NAMES FIRST DESIGN PLUS CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR CARROLL MIDDLE PROJECT
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education used its new designer selection procedures to name the design plus construction management team of Cherry Huffman Architects, P.A. and Barnhill Contracting, for a building and campus improvement project at Carroll Middle School. The new selection process should save time and money.

BOARD APPROVES CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR E-10 (BARWELL ROAD-AREA ELEMENTARY)
At its Nov. 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved the construction documents for the Barwell Road Area Elementary School/Park. The project will be funded by the PLAN 2000 and PLAN 2004 school construction programs, as well as $5,775,000 from City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation, and $250,000 from Wake County Parks and Recreation.

BOARD NAMES DESIGNER FOR MODULAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
At its Oct. 19 meeting, the Board of Education selected Cherry Huffman Architects, P.A. for the design of the modular elementary school on Highway 97 near Wendell. The architects have been selected as the designer for the future prototype elementary or prototype middle school that will be located on this site. This will ensure proper coordination between this project and the future project. The project will be funded as part of the PLAN 2004 School Construction program.

BOARD APPROVES DESIGN CONSULTANT FOR SPECIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
At its Oct. 19 meeting, the Board of Education selected Gurel Architecture to design the renovation to an existing office building at the recently purchased Heddingham Property for use as a Special Middle School. The project will be funded as part of the PLAN 2000 School Construction program.

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The School Construction Report is published electronically every other week for everyone interested in the Wake County Public School System. Is what you read in this edition helpful? What information would you like to see in future editions? Contact me by calling 850-1829 or e-mailing bposton@wcpss.net.

Bill Poston
Wake County Public School System
Communications Department
3600 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611

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