School Construction Report
October 14, 2004
BOARD DROPS YEAR-ROUND CONVERSION OPTION FOR 2005-06
At its meeting Oct. 5, the Board of Education approved using a mix of modular
schools and mobile classrooms at existing schools to meet 2005-06 classroom
space needs.
The board's action provides space for 5,900 students. School administrators said fast action was required to get the mobiles and modulars in place for the next school year. Administrators said the units would have to be ordered, architects would have to site the units on property and approvals would have to be sought from local governments' building inspectors. School administrators say they have met with local governments to help that process go smoothly and quickly.
The school system is looking at possible sites for the modular schools including East Millbrook Middle, Wildwood Forest Elementary, Lynn Road Elementary or a site in Wendell. Modular space may also be added at Wakefield High.
The mobiles and modulars will cost $34.4 million. School administrators and board members will discuss locations and funding for the classroom space at their next meeting
Board members and school administrators have noted that the dramatic increase in student enrollment may require capping school enrollment at some schools and assigning students to fill the new classroom space added by modular schools and mobile units.
The board approved the mobile units and modular schools after considering a number of alternatives in recent months. Earlier, the board removed the mandatory year-round conversion of elementary schools from the list of possible options for accommodating next year's student overcrowding.
The board's discussion follows two years of dramatic student population growth much higher than county projections; state-mandated class size reduction in third grade (requiring 90 additional classrooms) and approximately 1,900 students returning to public school from home, charter, parochial and private schools. As a result, WCPSS needs to find space for 3,737 elementary students, 507 middle and 1,654 high school students for the next school year.
BOARD APPROVES PURCHASE OF PROPERTY
At its Oct. 5 meeting, the Board of Education approved the purchase of two
sites for new schools. The board agreed to purchase 27.52 acres near the
intersection of Wendell Boulevard and NC 97 in Wendell for $850,000 and
the purchase of 16 acres on New Rogers-Young Bypass Road in Rolesville for
$576,000. The Rolesville site is for the PLAN 2004 E14 elementary school,
and the Wendell site will be used for a modular elementary in the short
term and the long-term use will be determined at a later date.
BOARD RECEIVES NEW SCHOOL CAPACITIES
At its Oct. 5 meeting, the Board of Education received new school capacities
from Associate Superintendent Don Haydon. The report indicates the annual
school campus capacity is 114,252. The annual school campus capacity is
calculated for each school by adding the school building capacity to the
actual capacity of the mobile units available for instructional purposes.
It also includes an adjustment for the actual supplemental programs. The
school building capacity is 100,059. The report indicates 709 mobiles were
used at schools to achieve the annual school campus capacity. Student enrollment
for 2004-05 is 114,068. School administrators use the capacity standards
in placing students and programs at schools seeking to provide the best
educational environment possible and to avoid inordinate crowding.
BOARD APPROVES CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR ENLOE HIGH
At its Oct. 5 meeting, the Board of Education approved construction documents
for additions and renovations of Enloe High School. Improvements at the
school are part of the PLAN 2000 and PLAN 2004 School Building Program.
BOARD NAMES DESIGN CONSULTANT FOR WAKE FOREST-ROLESVILLE HIGH IMPROVEMENTS
At its Oct. 5 meeting, the Board of Education selected Davis Kane Architects,
PA for the design of the renovation of the vocational education wing and
construction of new tennis courts at Wake Forest Rolesville High. The project
will be funded from the PLAN 2004 School Building Program.
BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR DOUGLAS CONSTRUCTION
At its Sept. 21 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a contract for additions
and renovations at Douglas Elementary. The board awarded a single-prime
contract to J. W. Grand, Inc. in the amount of $6,137,000. The project will
be funded from the PLAN 2000 School Building Program and PLAN 2004 School
Building Program.
BOARD NAMES DESIGN CONSULTANT FOR LONGVIEW CONSTRUCTION
At its Sept. 21 meeting, the Board of Education selected Gurel Architecture
as a design consultant for an addition and renovations at Longview School.
Improvements at the school are part of the PLAN 2000 School Building Program
BOARD APPROVES NEW FORM OF CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT
At its Sept. 21 meeting, the Board of Education approved a new form of agreements
for construction management and design consultant services. The new form
is known as Construction Management at Risk projects. The new agreements
were developed with the concurrence of the board's attorney.
Traditionally, the Board of Education contracts for design and construction services have followed the independent processes of design, bid, and build with either multi-prime or single-prime construction contracts. Legislation now permits various methods of construction including Construction Management at Risk. Construction Management at Risk means that one licensed general contracting firm holds the construction contracts for the full value of the project and provides a guaranteed maximum price for the construction.
This additional option for contracting for construction projects is being considered as a method that may provide savings of time and money.
The School Construction Report is published electronically for subscribers
to the Wake County Public School System's School Connection and Online Connection.
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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