Auxiliary Adviser"Providing Services That Power Education" |
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| Volume 2, Issue 9 |
June 2002
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In This Issue
Long-Term Dream Comes True
Designing Her Future
Employee Excellence Awards
Training Schedule
Mercury Thermometers Removal
Athletic ID Badges
MAXIMO Tip #2
Mark Your Calendar
Wake County Board of Education Chair Kathryn Watson Quigg, and board members Tom Oxholm, Rosa Gill, and Patti Head joined with Knightdale Mayor Joe Bryan and other town officials to break ground Wednesday (June 5) at the intersection of Smithfield, Forestville and Horton roads for a new high school, elementary school and community park.
"This is the most significant event to ever happen to Knightdale," said Bryan. "The new facilities fulfill a long-term dream of our citizens."
Both the elementary and high schools are scheduled for completion in fall 2004. Forestville Road Elementary will open with a full-size gym, multi-purpose field and a soccer field. Knightdale High will open with a football stadium, baseball field, softball field, two Little League baseball fields, practice field, six tennis courts, and two basketball courts.
"This is so important for the children of eastern Wake County," said Quigg. Students in all of eastern Wake County will benefit from the construction of the new elementary and high schools, which will add almost 2,300 classroom seats and ease overcrowding at existing area campuses, she added.
The Board of Education awarded the general construction contract for Knightdale High at its April 2 meeting to R.N. Rouse and Co., Inc. in the amount of $19,681,600. The board awarded the mechanical contract to Watco Corporation in the amount of $3,399,900, the electrical contract to Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. in the amount of $2,661,950, and the plumbing contract to ABL and Associates Plumbing, LLC in the amount of $1,254,950. The total of these multi-prime bids is $26,998,400.
Future athletic and park facilities, to be developed by the town, include: a community center with indoor pool, amphitheater, greenway, small lake area, softball fields, volleyball courts, and tennis courts.
The Town of Knightdale provided $1.7 million towards the soccer field and full-size gym at the elementary, Little League fields, irrigation, and site work. Wake County Parks and Recreation will contribute $450,000 to the project.
Marcella Rorie, facility planner with Wake County Public School System since 1997, earned her bachelor's of architecture degree from North Carolina State University, Sat., May 18, 2002.
Although she completed the first four years towards her degree almost 10 years ago, the fifth and final year of the program distinguishes her as a professional. Students must complete the fifth year of the program or earn a master's degree to be eligible to take the architect registration examination.
The nine-part exam, which she plans to study for in the fall, does not scare Rorie. "Going to school full-time, working full-time and living on only four hours of sleep was the real challenge," said Rorie.
Earning her license will open a lot of doors and be good for the Facility Planning Department, which currently has two licensed architects, she said. Rorie would own a seal and be able to do independent work. "I would love to do residential consulting on the side," said Rorie.
By working a flex schedule, Rorie managed to take a full 18 hours of classes her final two semesters, while still putting in 40-hour weeks at WCPSS. Often, she would be at Rock Quarry by 7:00 a.m., rush back and forth between work and classes throughout the day, and could still be at her design studio at 3:00 a.m.
This past year, Rorie studied issues such as theory of building types, contemporary architecture, history of structures, and legal issues. Each semester, she had at least one major project.
For the fall, Rorie designed a residence hall for Meredith College. Completely her own creation, Rorie designed everything for the building - from the program to all the systems (structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, etc.). Next, she constructed a "slice through" model (3 ½ feet by 5 feet) - complete with ductwork, parapets on the roof and windows that open.
Rorie chose to design a Riverfront and Visitors' Center for Richmond, Virginia, as her final project. She drove back and forth to Richmond most weekends to gather research. Incorporating urban and residential master planning, this project grew from 30,000 square feet to almost four city blocks.
These projects gave her a chance to experience things from the architect's point-of-view. Rorie created drawings and models, and decided how to present her plans. As a facility planner with WCPSS, she helps sell the (board-approved) architect's plan to the school community. At NCSU, she created and pitched her own ideas to the owners.
Rorie received her undergraduate degree, a bachelor's of environmental design in architecture, from NCSU as well. Originally from Wadesboro, NC, she moved to Raleigh to attend school, liked the area, and decided to stay.
The Board of Education named James Stuart Vickery, Martin Middle teacher, Wake County Employee of the Month for May 2002. At the June 3 meeting, the board also recognized the top six finalists, including Betty Bunn, team leader, Payroll; Elaine Gray, head custodian, East Millbrook Middle; Deborah Huston, teacher assistant, Baileywick Elementary; Mary E. May, band and orchestra director, West Cary Middle; Elisa Miller, ESL liaison, Customer Service Center; and Patricia Philbrook, lead secretary, Reedy Creek Elementary.
The Employee Excellence Award was established to recognize WCPSS employees for their hard work and dedication. Finalists are nominated and then selected by a committee.
For a complete list of training opportunities for auxiliary services employees, visit http://www2.wcpss.net/Departments/OrganizationalDevelopment/orgdev3.htm.
Wake County Public School System's Environmental Health and Safety Department is coordinating the removal of all mercury thermometers from our schools and administrative sites with custodial services and school nurses. The thermometers should be removed by mid-June 2002.
"We've explained how to handle a mercury spill in case a thermometer breaks, but it is easier and safer to simply remove them," said Frank Koontz, director of environmental health and safety. The school system's Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) nurse, Kelly Creech, came to Koontz with the request to head up the removal of approximately 1800 thermometers.
"The thermometers do not pose a health threat unless broken. If broken, the mercury could vaporize and go into the lungs," explained Creech. Mercury is a natural element that can exist in several forms and can be found in the soil, water, rocks, and living organisms. However, the substance is a toxin. "For the safety of our students and staff we are doing a full sweep," said Creech.
Custodial field supervisors will triple-bag thermometers and bring them to the EHAS office, where they will be placed in five-gallon buckets of bentonite. EHAS will contract with a hazardous materials specialist to legally and properly dispose of the mercury. In addition, EHAS has asked the Purchasing Department to discontinue purchasing mercury thermometers - there are currently 356 of them are in our warehouse - and switch to an alternative, such as a digital or alcohol thermometer.
The Wake County Public School System is providing the opportunity to purchase athletic picture ID badges for the 2002/2003 school year. The $5.00 badge will grant employees free admission into middle and high school regular season games in Wake County.
Full-time employees who purchased the badge for the 2001/2002 school year will be given a validation sticker by the end of July. New full-time employees purchasing the $5.00 ID for the first time may do so at one of the locations listed below. Employees who have lost their 2001/2002 ID may replace it by attending one of the sessions below and paying $20.00.
| Dates | Location | Time | Phone Number |
| Aug. 5 | Apex HS Cafeteria | 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. | 387-2213 OR 387-2243 |
| Aug. 6 | Sanderson HS Gym Lobby | 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. | 881-4800 |
Visit http://www2.wcpss.net/departments/Athletics/badges.htm for more information.
Remember to enter the actual start and actual completion dates when completing work orders in MAXIMO!
In order to run accurate reports in MAXIMO, you must have the correct information. So when you complete your work orders, remember to always put the correct actual start date and actual completion date. To enter a date, click on the blue arrow to the right of the date field. This will bring up a small calendar. Simply click on the correct date and click OK. The date will fill in for you, automatically.
Please call if you have questions.
Your MAXIMO Resources:
| Denise Boughton | Kris Bowen | Kate Nikolaisen |
| Phone: 664.5723 | 856.8018 | 664.5729 |
| E-mail: dboughton@wcpss.net | E-mail: kbowen@wcpss.net | E-mail: knikolaisen@wcpss.net |
June 14
Flag Day
June 16
Father's Day
June 21 - 24
NEED Youth Awards in Washington, D.C.
June 26
Cedar Fork Elementary Groundbreaking
Stay Informed
Subscribe to the Auxiliary Adviser and stay informed of important issues and events in the Auxiliary Services Division. To subscribe, e-mail kwood@wcpss.net, with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. The newsletter will be e-mailed to you on a monthly basis.
If you do not wish to subscribe, you can also find the Adviser on the Tao bulletin board for auxiliary services. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Kristin Wood at 856-8036.
Auxiliary Services Division
Vision
Providing Services That Power Education
Mission Statement
Provide quality facilities and support services to ensure
safe, healthy, inviting and optimal learning environments.
Goals
1) Recruit and retain a qualified and high quality workforce.
2) Provide and maintain quality facilities and support services
that result in a safe and healthy learning environment.
3) Support recommendations of the joint county/school system
strategies report.