The School Construction Report
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.
August 26, 2005
CONSTRUCTION STATUS FOR 2005 OPENINGS
All schools were ready for students to return for the first day of traditional
calendar class.
As WCPSS administrators had predicted, it was a tight timeline to get three new temporary modular schools opened. Wakelon Elementary was finished first with teachers able to move in August 15. Forest Pines Elementary staff received approvals to invite the public on campus hours before the school's scheduled Meet the Teacher August 23. Harris Creek was the third of the modular schools to be ready and some work continues there to complete it. The school opened with classroom buildings ready for students. Work will continue to complete modular units to be used for kitchen/dining and multi-purpose areas. School officials have made arrangements with nearby Millbrook High to assist with food service.
The other new school to open this year was Cedar Fork Elementary. Cedar Fork served as swing space for the past two years for elementary schools undergoing renovation.
Major Renovations were completed at Northwoods Elementary, Douglas Elementary, Daniels Middle, Ligon Middle, North Garner Middle, Longview School, Broughton High and Millbrook High.
Systemwide improvements were completed at Apex Elementary, Apex High Aversboro Elementary, Brassfield Elementary, Broughton High, East Wake Middle, Fox Road Elementary, Fuquay-Varina Elementary, Fuquay-Varina High, Green Elementary, Lead Mine Elementary, Leesville Road Middle, Penny Road Elementary, Powell Elementary, Root Elementary and Vandora Springs Elementary.
Additional mobile and modular classrooms will be installed across the system through the end of the year.
Renovations are being made to an office building that will be converted into River Oaks Middle. The school should be ready this fall and will serve middle school students whose behavior has put them at-risk for long term suspension.
BOARD APPROVES DESIGN DOCUMENTS FOR HERITAGE HIGH
At its August 23 meeting, the Board of Education approved the schematic
design documents prepared by LS3P/Boney, for the construction of the new
1,663-capacity Heritage High School. In order to accommodate growth in northern
Wake County, Heritage High needs to be available for students in 2008; one
year earlier than currently scheduled. To accomplish this with limited funding,
the project must be bid in two main phases. Phase I is the site, steel,
and foundation packages; and Phase II is the remainder of construction,
which will be funded from the next building program. Fiscal Implications:
The proposed project budget for Phase I will be funded from the PLAN 2000
School Building Program and the PLAN 2004 School Building Program. An estimated
future reallocation of $7,010,016 will be needed to fully fund the first
phase.
BOARD APPROVES CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR E9 AND E12 ELEMENTARIES ON
FOREST PINES DRIVE
At its August 23 meeting, the Board of Education approved the construction
documents and authorized staff to advertise for the construction of two
655-student capacity elementary schools (two-story) on Forest Pines Drive
(E9 and E12) located in Northern Wake County. This is the first and second
reuse of the Brier Creek prototype. The proposed project will be funded
from the PLAN 2000 School Building Program and the PLAN 2004 School Building
Program.
BOARD APPROVES CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR SANFORD CREEK ELEMENTARY (E-14)
At its August 23 meeting, the Board of Education approved the construction
documents and authorized staff to advertise for the construction of Sanford
Creek Elementary School (E-14), a two-story, 655-student capacity elementary
school located in Rolesville. This is the third reuse of the Brier Creek
prototype. The proposed project will be funded from the PLAN 2004 School
Building Program.
YEAR-ROUND CONVERSION DELAYED
At its Aug. 9 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Board of Education decided
to delay the conversion of existing schools to year-round so that the district
can gather more community and staff input. Staff would then create a comprehensive
master plan including the construction of new schools, renovation of existing
schools and establishment of additional year-round calendar school
"Creating a comprehensive plan will allow us to go to the public one time for year-round designation," said Ramey Beavers, senior director of Growth Management.
School system staff said there are too many unknown factors - such as student enrollment numbers for the coming school year and the date and size of the next school construction bond - to know how many year-round schools the district needs right now. The size of the bond plays a factor because the more new schools that are included, the fewer schools will need to be established as year-round.
WCPSS is considering expanding year-round as a way to provide much-needed classroom seats. Converting schools to a year-round calendar could provide a 30 percent gain in capacity because three of four groups of students are in session and one group is on break at any given time.
Board members said that most new schools would open on the year-round calendar. WCPSS is opening the new Carpenter Elementary (2006) and East Cary Middle (2007) on the year-round calendar. Staff also recommended opening the new Barwell Road and Brier Creek elementary schools as year-round in 2006 as well.
The school system will hold Community Engagement Meetings between this September and November, and hold information sessions for school personnel and survey the public between October and November.
School board members and county commissioners expect to decide the date of the 2006 bond referendum - either May, October or November - in the next two or three weeks.
BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR MODULAR CLASSROOM ADDITIONS
At its August 9 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a single-prime contract
to C. Blake Lewis in the total amount of $480,089 for the site set-up of
one six-classroom modular unit at Holly Spring Elementary, one six-classroom
modular unit at Wildwood Forest Elementary, and one eight-classroom modular
unit at Middle Creek Elementary. The project will be funded from the Crowding
Solution budget.
BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR WEST MILLBROOK IMPROVEMENTS
At its August 9 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a single-prime contract
to Ruston Paving Company, Inc. in the amount of $203,100 to overlay asphalt
on portions of the driveways and parking lots. The project will be funded
from the PLAN 2004 School Building 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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