Wake Schools Celebrate National School Building Week
April 7 - 11, 2003

In celebration of National School Building Week, facility planners, furniture specialists and architects meet with Fuquay-Varina Middle and Cary Elementary students to discuss the schools' major construction projects and show what the updated campuses will look like in the fall. Facilities staff visited Fuquay-Varina's seventh-graders (housed at Holly Springs Middle) at 1:10 p.m. Thursday, Apr. 10, and Cary's fourth-graders (housed at Reedy Creek Middle) at 1:40 p.m.

WCPSS Furniture Specialist Becky Romine shows Cary Elementary students fabric and color samples.

In an effort to be less disruptive to class schedules, and save time and money, both schools are at temporary locations during construction.

"This week gives us an opportunity to highlight a couple of our older schools that are undergoing extensive construction projects," said Don Haydon, associate superintendent for auxiliary services. "Renovating and updating older schools - such as Cary and Fuquay-Varina - and bringing them up to code can have a great impact on student success. We know there is a strong connection between healthy, inviting school buildings and high student achievement."

To help explain the projects, facilities staff brought models, drawings, furniture samples, and color boards on their visits. Students compareed pre-construction photos to current construction pictures and architects' renderings of the final product.

"Our fourth-graders are going to be school leaders when they return to Cary Elementary in the fall," said Principal LaVaughn Buchanan. "By being a part of this special visit, seeing the three-dimensional models and having the opportunity to ask questions, these students will take ownership of the school. They will develop a deeper sense of pride."

Cary Elementary - built in the 1920s - desperately needs the major renovations and additions currently underway. As part of the PLAN 2000 building program, Cary's project includes constructing general and exceptional children's

A Cary Elementaryfourth-grader examines pictures of her school.

classrooms, an art room, media center, dining room, kitchen, and other support spaces. Although the bulk of the project involves new construction, it also entails renovating for physical education space, demolishing two buildings, site improvements, and upgrades to meet code. (The old building was sold to the Town of Cary.)

With buildings originally constructed in 1916, Fuquay-Varina Middle is another campus in need of a complete overhaul. The school's PLAN 2000 project, also underway, includes constructing new general, science, technical education, music and art classrooms; building a new theatre, dining room, support spaces, and plant operations space. The project also involves renovating a building for classrooms, support and offices; demolishing several buildings on the north end of campus; and site improvements and upgrades to meet code.

To learn more about National School Building Week, visit www.cefpi.com.