School Construction Report - Winter 2002
It's What's Inside That Counts
 Second-grade teacher Tracy Daniel works with a morning reading group at Olds Elementary. |
What do you think of when someone says, conducive to learning, clean, bright, and colorful? The students, parents and staff at Fred A. Olds Elementary picture their home campus after its recent construction project.
Principal Mary Anne Wheeler sees the connection between school buildings and learning. "As long as your program is child-centered you can be successful, but having a clean, healthy environment sure helps…. Our new environment lifts spirits," she said.
Olds spent the last two school years at the former Cardinal Gibbons High site while the elementary school received an extensive $6.5 million renovation and addition project. Usually, temporarily moving students and staff to a close, available site (or "swing space") shortens the time needed for a construction project.
Wheeler and her staff were positive throughout the move and construction. "I'm fortunate to have an optimistic, forward-thinking staff. They've been very flexible because they could see where the project was going. They could see the benefits," said Wheeler.
Renewed Focus
Fourth-grade teacher Peggy Ramseur is impressed with the complete
transformation of the school as well. Ramseur, who has been
with Olds for 13 years, can describe the changes firsthand.
She was there when Hurricane Fran wreaked havoc, causing water
to seep through the ceiling and into the walls. She remembers
the crumbling plaster, peeling paint, noisy radiators, and
patched carpet. Water dripping from ceilings every time it
rained and the overall darkness and dreariness of the school
were images ingrained in her mind.
Facility Planner Larry Sherrill agrees. "This project
allows teachers to do what they are supposed to do. There
will be fewer distractions. Teachers will not have to deal
with plumbing that doesn't work, overflowing toilets or crumbling
walls. They can focus on teaching," said Sherrill.
Ready to Learn
Construction workers gutted Olds' interior, renovating 26,002
square feet of classrooms, counselor rooms, office space,
the media center, the teachers' lounge, and toilets, while
keeping the interior of the building and existing structural
walls intact. Olds received new finishes, windows, lighting,
and furniture as well. While maintaining the architectural
integrity of the existing building, designers were able to
tie in an 11,474-square foot addition that includes art and
music classrooms, dining, and a multi-purpose room. A folding
partition divides the dining and multi-purpose room, increasing
the space's flexibility and functionality.
Now, warm sunlight pours through large, new classroom windows as Ramseur leads her morning reading group. Walking through the corridors, she sees deep purple and red hues that accent the fresh cream-colored walls and environmentally-friendly linoleum floors. Stopping in the music room, she hears children singing and clapping as they comfortably sit cross-legged on new carpet. At lunchtime, Ramseur and her class easily descend the wide staircase to the well-lit cafeteria and dining area. "I can't believe the difference," said Ramseur.
For more information, contact Kristin Wood, WCPSS Auxiliary Services, 856-8036, or visit our website at www.wcpss.net/auxiliary-services/
Athens Drive High moves to Middle Creek campus for 2001-2002
Athens Drive High at Middle Creek is an example of the Wake County Public School System's planned use of swing space. PLAN 2000's mix of new school construction and major campus renovations provides an opportunity for schools to move into newly completed campuses while their facilities are renovated.
As Wake County's school population has grown from 70,000 in 1992-93 to 101,000 this year, new schools have been built and older facilities updated, driving the need for swing space.
 Principal Chontos meets with teachers to prepare for the coming school year. |
Students are safe and construction moves faster when a school campus can be renovated without students on campus. Teachers and students can better focus on instruction without the noise and hustle of construction crews at their school.
Athens Drive Principal Kathy Chontos and the 2,000 teachers
and students of Athens Drive High moved about 15 miles to
the west into the newly completed Middle Creek High campus,
while their campus received $8 million in improvements.
Moving onto a new campus for one year made getting ready for
the start of school even more demanding.
"When it hit me that I thought managing 2,000 students in the building would be easier than planning and moving to a new campus, I thought, 'Now I know I've gone around the bend,'" said Chontos. "In many ways instruction of 2,000 students will be easier, because that's what teachers do, that's what we are called to do and what we know and love."
Everything Athens Drive needed for the school year had to be brought from their school to Middle Creek. The staff worked with movers to fill 15,000 boxes that were labeled with teachers' names or the offices where they would be shipped. It took three weeks to move all the boxes out of the school and another three weeks to move them into Middle Creek.
Plans for use of Swing Space
The Athens Drive example shows the benefit of coordinating
renovation and new construction projects. It's the third time
recently that WCPSS has used swing space. Olds Elementary
moved to the former Cardinal Gibbons High from 1999 to 2001,
and Sanderson High moved into Wakefield High from 1999 to
2000
during major campus renovations. This year, Underwood Elementary
is at the former Cardinal Gibbons site.
In 2002-2003, more schools will relocate. Heritage Elementary will house Wake Forest Elementary. Holly Ridge Elementary will house Apex Elementary. Holly Ridge Middle will house Fuquay-Varina Middle. And Reedy Creek Middle will house Cary Elementary.
Returning to Campus
As Athens Drive reaches Christmas break after four months
at the Middle Creek campus, Chontos has been pleased to see
that teachers have been able to focus on instruction.
"We have had a successful year despite all the transition and the disruption that brings," she said. "Everyone joined arms together to make the best of our situation. It has made us a stronger team."
Chontos said students are already beginning to anticipate returning to their campus. And she said Assistant Principal Floyd Lowman, who worked with staff to plan and carry out the move to Middle Creek will begin Jan. 4 with preparations to return to the Athens Drive campus for next fall.
Lowman has a sign on his wall that a teacher gave him that reads, "HELP ME! I'm moving again!"
When they return next fall, Athens Drive faculty and students will find improvements to classrooms, space for the school's hearing-impaired program, and upgrades to the auditorium, media center, video production studio, and locker rooms. Renovations will provide deferred maintenance and modernization. The kitchen will have air conditioning.
The school has posted pictures of the school renovation on its website at http://schools.wcpss.net/athensdrive-hs/construction.html and WCPSS Facility Planning offers information on Swing Space and Prototype Designs at http://www.wcpss.net/auxiliary-services/newschools.html
Bill Poston, WCPSS Communications, 850-1829
WCPSS Construction Projects
| In design | 21 |
| Under construction | 14 |
| Completed in summer 2001 | 11 |
Plus 14 maintenance projects, 19 state bond projects and 3 PLAN 2000 system-wide improvement projects completed in 2001. An additional 13 maintenance and state bond projects and 25 PLAN 2000 system-wide improvements will complete in 2002.