School Construction Report

Goal 2008: WCPSS is committed to academic excellence. By 2008, 95 percent of students in grades 3 through 12 will be at or above grade level as measured by the State of North Carolina End-of-Grade or Course tests, and all student groups will demonstrate high growth.

Feb. 21, 2005


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND BOARD REVIEW SITE FOR FOREST PINES DRIVE ELEMENTARY MODULAR SCHOOL
In a joint meeting of the Wake County Commissioners and Board of Education Feb. 16, commissioners and board members discussed the location for the proposed Forest Pines Drive Elementary modular school. The school system has proposed placing the modular school at the DuBois Center in Wake Forest. In the meeting Feb. 16, commissioners and board members heard from developers Ed Sutton and Craig Davis. Sutton has offered a site on Queensland Road and Davis has proposed a site across the road from where the permanent Forest Pines Drive Elementary will be built. Commissioners and board members were working to determine if the property offered by the developers could meet the tight timeline of getting the modular school ready by the first of August at approximately the cost of the DuBois Center agreement that is before the county commissioners. Commissioners will discuss the school land lease at their meeting Monday, Feb. 21.

COUNTY LEADERS HEAR UPDATE ON PROJECTED ENROLLMENT
In a joint meeting of the Wake County Commissioners and Board of Education Feb. 14, commissioners and board members heard an update of enrollment projections from the Wake County Planning Department. County planners have updated their projections for enrollment to 187,363 students in 2020 -- nearly 27,000 more than earlier estimates. The new figures reflect faster migration into Wake than previously projected, as well as number of students who enrolled this year and last year at WCPSS after leaving private, charter and home schools where growth trends are down.

BOARD OF EDUCATION PURCHASES LAND ON BARWELL ROAD
At its Feb. 15 meeting, the Board of Education purchased land on Barwell Road from the city of Raleigh for a new elementary school. The district will pay $395,000 for the 18.75 acres in Southeast Raleigh. Wake County will contribute $43,450 for road construction. The city will build a community center that the elementary will share, and in the future will develop a park on the site.

BOARD APPROVES DESIGN AGREEMENT FOR FOREST PINES DRIVE SITE
At its Feb. 15 meeting, the Board of Education named LS3P/Boney as design consultants for the schools at the Forest Pines Drive site in North Raleigh. The approved PLAN 2004 School Building Program includes two new 655 student capacity elementary schools, E-9 and E-12, which will be located on one site on Forest Pines Drive. The school system plans to use the Brier Creek Elementary prototype designed by LS3P/Boney because of the building's small footprint. This will accommodate two schools on that site. LS3P/Boney will adopt their prototype design to the site. This is the fourth and fifth reuse of this prototype. Funding for this project is provided in the PLAN 2004 School Building Program.

BOARD NAMES NEW SCHOOL IN NORTH RALEIGH
At its meeting Feb. 15, the Board of Education approved the name of Forest Pines Drive Elementary for the school that had been designated E9. On Dec.20, 2004, the Board of Education approved a contract to acquire approximately 20 acres of land on Forest Pines Drive, Raleigh, for perhaps two elementary facilities. The school will open as a temporary modular school for 2005-06 and the permanent facility should be ready for students in 2007-08 .

BOARD NAMES NEW SCHOOL IN ZEBULON
At its meeting Feb. 15, the Board of Education approved the name of Wakelon Elementary for the school that had been designated E15. On Dec. 20, 2004, the Board of Education approved a contract to acquire approximately 34 acres of land on Zebulon Road and Pippin Road, Zebulon, for a new elementary facility. The property lies in the 300-acre Weaver's Pond development. At the Feb. 1 meeting, school administrators proposed naming E15 Lakeview Elementary. At the Feb. 15 meeting, Clint Jobe of the WCPSS Real Estate Office said Zebulon leaders suggested several names including Wakelon to honor the former Wakelon School. Board members agreed. The school will open as a temporary modular school for 2005-06 at Wendell Blvd. and Highway 97 in Wendell and the permanent facility should be ready for students in 2007-08 .

BOARD APPROVES DESIGN FOR WAKE FOREST ROLESVILLE HIGH COURTS
At its meeting Feb. 15, the Board of Education approved schematic design documents prepared by Davis Kane Architects, PA, for the addition of new tennis courts at Wake Forest-Rolesville High. The board asked for additional information about renovation or replacement of the school's vocational education building. Administrators will discuss that proposal further at the next board meeting, March 1.

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The School Construction Report is published electronically every other week for everyone interested in the Wake County Public School System. Is what you read in this edition helpful? What information would you like to see in future editions? Contact me by calling 850-1829 or e-mailing bposton@wcpss.net.

Bill Poston
Wake County Public School System
Communications Department
3600 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611

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