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.

March 4, 2005


BOARD APPROVES LEASE FOR FOREST PINES MODULAR SCHOOL SITE
At its March 1 meeting, the Board of Education approved a revised lease for the Forest Pines Drive Elementary temporary modular school site at the DuBois Center in Wake Forest. The school district will pay $36,000 a year to the National Alumni Association of DuBois High School to use the site from March 1 through July 31, 2007. Of the money, $26,000 will help the Alumni Association pay down the money it still owes the school district from when it bought the center from it in 1998.

A majority of the board said they approved the DuBois site because it was the only site for the temporary modular school campus that could be guaranteed to open on time in August 2005, unlike proposed sites offered by developers, or other school system property.

BOARD APPROVES RESOLUTION ON FUNDING PLAN 2004 BUILDING PROGRAM PROJECTS
At its March 1 meeting, the Board of Education approved a resolution pertaining to funding of PLAN 2004 Capital Building Program projects. The resolution states the board will cover cost escalations in the $550 million building program by deferring the funding of specific projects to the next building program, with the understanding that the highest priority will be assigned to these projects in the next building program so that they will be completed on the PLAN 2004 schedule.

The resolution notes that local school and national construction costs have risen dramatically within the past 12 months, resulting in the need for an estimated $31.5 million to complete PLAN 2004 projects.

The resolution includes agreements reached between the board and the county commissioners in ongoing discussions. It states that the commissioners agreed to fully fund the $550 million PLAN 2004 building program, to fund an additional $14.4 million for mobile/modular classroom space for the 2005-06 school year and has stated the intent to schedule a bond referendum for fall 2006, making funds available in 2007.

BOARD APPROVES NAME FOR EAST WAKE SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCE
At its meeting March 1, the Board of Education approved the official name for the East Wake School of Health Science. East Wake High has used a grant to study ways to implement small school concepts at their school. Principal Herman Norman and his faculty are working to create the School of Health Science on their campus to serve up to 400 of the school's students. On Feb. 1, the board approved the School of Health Science as an autonomous school under the terms and conditions of application for a New Schools Project implementation grant. The school must be officially named in order to secure a number as a separate cost center.

BOARD NAMES E10 BARWELL ROAD ELEMENTARY
At its March 1 meeting, the Board of Education approved the official name for E10 as Barwell Road Elementary. The project goes to bid this month and is scheduled to open in the fall of 2006. On Feb. 15, the board approved a contract to acquire 18.75 acres of land on Barwell Road, Raleigh, for a new 792 student capacity elementary facility and City of Raleigh community center.

BOARD NAMES E14 SANFORD CREEK ELEMENTARY
At its March 1 meeting, the Board of Education approved the official name for E14 as Sanford Creek Elementary. The name was selected after school administrators reviewed with staff and elected officials of the Town of Rolesville several potential names including: (1) Sanford Creek Elementary, (2) Granite Woods Elementary, (3) Carolina Pines Elementary. Sanford Creek is in close proximity to the school site. Granite Woods and Carolina Pines were not recommended due to potential new subdivisions having similar names. On Jan. 11, the board acquired 16.394 acres for a new elementary facility in Rolesville. The property fronts Stratford School Boulevard, which runs from Rogers Road to West Young Street. The property acquired is a portion of a larger tract to be developed as a mixed-use community entitled Stratford.

BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR HARRIS CREEK ELEMENTARY
At its March 1 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a single-prime contract to J.M. Thompson Company in the amount of $13,033,700 for the construction of Harris Creek Elementary. Current available funds consist of $14,638,480 from the PLAN 2004 School Building Program and $170,000 from Wake County Parks and Recreation for a joint-use playfield. This will fund the award of the construction contract. A future reallocation of $1,491,745 is needed to fully fund the project.

BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR NEW MODULARS AT FOX ROAD AND COMBS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
At its March 1 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a single prime contract to Beau Chene Company, LLC in the amount of $244,000 for the site setup of the six classroom modular complex at Fox Road Elementary and Combs Elementary Schools. The project will be funded from the PLAN 2004 Mobile Classrooms - Growth Project.

BOARD APPROVES DESIGN FOR WAKE FOREST ROLESVILLE HIGH PROJECT
At its March 1 meeting, the Board of Education approved the schematic design documents prepared by Davis Kane Architects, PA, for the construction of the Wake Forest Rolesville High Vocational Education Building.

The original program specified a renovation of the existing building. Upon analysis by the architect, the best solution is the construction of a new building. This most cost effective solution will require additional funding. The project will be funded from the PLAN 2004 School Building Program and a future reallocation of $500,000 will be required.

BOARD APPROVES DESIGN FOR E18 IN HOLLY SPRINGS
At its March 1 meeting, the Board of Education approved the schematic design documents prepared by Cherry Huffman Architects, PA, for the construction of E18 Elementary in Holly Springs. The school will be built as part of 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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