PLAN 2000 Mid-Program Update - Efficiency

October 2002

Building Efficiency
PLAN 2000 provides the school system a great opportunity to share some of its money-saving measures with the community. We constantly evaluate the design and construction processes to find ways to build quality schools even more efficiently.

One measure of efficiency is the reuse of school building designs, called prototypes. Reusing designs typically saves between three and six months in design time, saves between $300,000 and $500,000, and allows for design improvements and modifications. The school system has employed this cost-saving strategy for many years. In fact, over half of Wake's school buildings are repeated designs.

Another money-saving measure involves building multi-story schools where appropriate. Due to the tremendous growth in the county, the school system will continue developing plans for multi-story sites. There are some restrictions, however. National and state building codes require all kindergarten and first-grade students be housed on the ground floor and have direct exits to the outdoors from all spaces they use; including classrooms, media centers and cafeterias. Due to these restrictions, some elementary schools are one-story buildings.

WCPSS examines life-cycle costs and energy-savings when selecting building materials as yet another way to build quality schools more efficiently. For example, terrazzo floors typically cost about $9/square foot and vinyl tile costs about $2/square foot. At first glance, tile looks like the obvious choice. However, terrazzo stands up to heavy wear, requires little maintenance, can go 15 years before being refinished, and lasts almost 100 years. So, it is important - financially - to look long-term and evaluate the trade-offs.

Savings
As of August 31, 2002, the school system has almost $262 million of the $550 million building plan under contract.

Due to a competitive bidding climate and by being fiscally conservative, the school system has saved over $24 million in PLAN 2000. More than $10 million of this savings has already been used to meet critical school building and maintenance needs, allowing WCPSS to further its mission to provide quality facilities and ensure safe, healthy, optimal learning environments.

Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)
A dedicated citizens group, made up of both supporters and opponents of 1999's failed school bond referendum, was charged with recommending an acceptable capital spending plan through 2004 to address the need for new schools, renovations to existing schools, other facilities, and technology. After meeting and studying the Wake school system in depth, the CAC presented a list of 28 recommendations.

WCPSS has incorporated or is in the process of incorporating 27 of those recommendations, and as a result, PLAN 2000 accomplishes these goals:
· Meets classroom needs first,
· Provides approximately 11,000 classroom seats,
· Reduces space standards and capacity models,
· Uses more efficient construction methods and reuses existing building plans,
· Opens more year-round schools, which makes the most of available space and reduces new construction costs,
· Does not raise taxes to build and improve schools.