Barwell Road Groundbreaking Ceremony
August 3, 2005--State and local dignitaries braved the sweltering heat to support and celebrate breaking ground for the new Barwell Road Elementary School, Community Center and Community Park in Southeast Raleigh. The elementary school, located approximately a quarter mile from the intersection of Rock Quarry and Barwell roads, is scheduled to open in 2006.
Wake County Board of Education members Amy White and Rosa Gill, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, Wake County Commissioners Chairman Joe Bryan, and Raleigh City Councilman James West raved about the joint project and what it will mean for the area. State Sen. Vernon Malone, state Rep. Bernard Allen, school board member Bill Fletcher, county commissioner Betty Lou Ward, City Manager Russell Allen, and other community leaders were also on hand to show their support.
“We’re celebrating something that will be an asset to the community,” said White. “I think of it not as a school, but as an institute for leaders. I offer my humble thanks to everyone here today."
Councilman West, who Gill recognized for being instrumental in bringing the project to Southeast Raleigh, has his finger on the pulse of the community. “The neighborhood is buzzing. There’s a lot of community pride and a lot of ownership here. I’m delighted to be a part of this effort.”
Neal Conley with Small Kane Architects presented drawings of what Barwell Road Elementary will look like when it opens for the 2006-07 school year. The school will hold approximately 800 students and will be built from the same two-story design seen at Forestville, Cedar Fork and Carpenter elementary schools. (The design will be used for Harris Creek as well.) The school will have a standard multi-purpose field, play areas for kindergarten through second grade and for third grade through fifth grade; the community center includes two full-size gyms and community classrooms; and the park will have two fields plus nature trails.
Funding comes from WCPSS PLAN 2004 and PLAN 2000, city of Raleigh, and Wake County. The total project budget is approximately $25.6 million, and includes furniture, equipment and all fees.
Superintendent Bill McNeal was unable to attend, as he was recently named a consultant to the State Board of Education, which had an all-day meeting.