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.
January 30, 2006
FACILITIES COMMITTEE DISCUSSES SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM
At its Jan. 30 meeting, the Board of Education Facilities Committee continued
its discussion about the next school construction program. Board members
talked with Associate Superintendent Don Haydon and Assistant Superintendent
Chuck Dulaney as they continued to refine several scenarios that include
the options of adding new seats by building new schools and converting existing
schools to a year-round calendar, as well as continuing to maintain current
facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT OF BUILDING PROGRAM SCENARIOS
WCPSS is expected to add 72,000 students by 2015. While growth is a sign
of a healthy community, it also has a price tag. In a joint work session
between the school board and county commissioners, county staff discussed
school construction for two scenarios for the next 10 years and the associated
property tax rate increases.
Scenario one, at $4.2 billion, designates the maximum number of elementary and middle schools to the year-round calendar. WCPSS could designate 91 schools as year-round; 10 schools are not large enough to offer multi-track year-round. Even designating the maximum number, WCPSS would still need to build 50 new schools.
Scenario two, at $5.6 billion, maintains the current percentage of year-round elementary and middle schools. WCPSS would designate one middle school as year-round and build 91 schools.
Over the course of three bond referenda, scenario one would require a total (capital and operating) tax rate increase of 50.5 cents between now and 2016. Scenario two would require a 59.1-cent increase over the next 10 years.
The school construction bond on the November 2006 ballot could range from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion. County officials said anything above $625 million would require a tax increase.
At $0.604 per $100 of assessed value, Wake County has the lowest tax rate of the largest school districts in the state.
Building program discussions and refinements will continue, with WCPSS staff presenting a draft program to the Board of Education in March.
BOARD AND COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS IMPACT OF GROWTH
In recent discussions between the county commissioners and school board,
Wake County Manager David Cooke explained that if Wake County had a higher
percentage of commercial growth than residential, growth would pay for itself
(based on property taxes). But, that's not the case in Wake County. Wake
has more residential growth, than commercial growth. Adding residents does
increase the tax base, but these residents also require additional services
(such as schools), which cost money.
In their joint work sessions, school board and county commissioners said it took property taxes from two new homeowners to cover the cost of one new student. The board members added that this was the case in the past, and that the ratio may have gone up.
BOARD RECEIVES UPDATE ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
In looking at creative ways to provide classroom seats, WCPSS staff discussed
public-private partnerships at the school board's Facilities Committee as
a possible way to save time constructing schools in the future. Current
state legislation prevents school districts from entering into a lease with
the option to purchase and districts aren't allowed to set the parameters
for building, either. For example, WCPSS would not be able to say where
a school is needed or how many classrooms it should have. (School districts
are allowed to lease a building and renovate or repair it.). The school
board will consider introducing a new bill on these partnerships for the
legislative long session.
SEVEN NEW SCHOOLS OPEN IN 2006-07
WCPSS will open seven new schools for 2006-07. Panther Creek High in Cary
and Holly Springs High in Holly Springs are under construction and on schedule
for a fall opening. The five new elementary schools include Barwell Road
Elementary in Southeast Raleigh, Brier Creek Elementary in North Raleigh,
Carpenter Elementary in Cary, as well as two early start schools: Holly
Grove Elementary and E19. All of these schools are opening as multi-track,
year-round schools, which provide space for more students. Holly Grove will
start in an unused wing of the new Holly Springs High while the new permanent
school is built on adjacent property. E19 will move into the temporary modular
campus on Spring Forest Road in North Raleigh. Harris Creek Elementary will
leave the modular campus and move into its permanent building on Forestville
Road near Mitchell Mill Road. More information about the new schools is
available at http://www.wcpss.net/2006_new_schools/
At the WCPSS Demographic Resource Center, Maya Vouk provides a map of the school sites at http://www.wcpss.net/demographics/projections/images/plan04.pdf More demographic data is available at http://www.wcpss.net/demographics/
BOARD APPROVES AGREEMENT FOR HOLLY SPRINGS ELEMENTARY
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Board of Education approved an agreement with
the Town of Holly Springs and reimbursement of $32,410.00 to the Town of
Holly Springs for construction costs. In an effort to address traffic congestion
on Holly Springs Road caused during student drop-off and pickup times at
Holly Springs Elementary, the town and the school system agreed that the
town would construct an extension to the carpool stacking lane and add associated
parking for Jones Park at Holly Springs Elementary School. The town agreed
to pay the first $100,000 of the estimated $180,000 construction costs.
The town completed the work during the 2005 summer and the school system's
share of the cost was $32,410.
BOARD NAMES CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS FOR EAST WAKE HIGH PROJECT
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Board of Education approved Heery International,
Inc. and D. H. Griffin Construction, LLC, for construction of the East Wake
High renovation and addition project. Pearce, Brinkley Cease & Lee,
PA, is the designer for this project. Construction Management fees for Heery
and Griffin will be negotiated in accordance with professional services
procedures using the board approved construction manager-at-risk contract.
BOARD NAMES CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR EAST MILLBROOK PROJECT
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Board of Education approved Barnhill Contracting
Company for construction of the East Millbrook Middle renovation and addition
project. The Roberts Group, PA, is the designer for this project. Construction
Management fees for Barnhill will be negotiated in accordance with professional
services procedures using the board approved construction manager-at-risk
contract.
BOARD NAMES CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR AVERSBORO PROJECT
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Board of Education approved Turner Construction
Company for construction of the Aversboro Elementary renovation and addition
project. The designer selection process is under way for this project. Construction
Management fees for Turner will be negotiated in accordance with professional
services procedures using the board approved construction manager-at-risk
contract.
BOARD NAMES CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR LYNN ROAD PROJECT
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Board of Education approved Centex Construction
for construction of the Lynn Road Elementary renovation and addition project.
Skinner, Lamm & Highsmith, PA, is the designer for this project. Construction
Management fees for Centex will be negotiated in accordance with professional
services procedures using the board approved construction manager-at-risk
contract.
BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR SITE SET-UP OF MOBILE CLASSROOM UNITS
At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a single-prime contract
to C. Blake Lewis Construction in the amount of $1,157,298, for the site
set-up of 25 mobile classroom units, including alternate #1 for an additional
28 mobile classroom units. Funding is available from the project budget
of $4,635,000 for the leasing and set-up of one hundred and three (103)
classrooms (mobile/modular units) which is part of the $5,385,000 2006 Crowding
Solution budget. Funds in the amount of $1,157,298 will be encumbered from
PLAN 2004 Program Contingency until the reallocation approved by the Board
on December 6, 2005, is approved by the Board of Commissioners on February
6, 2006.
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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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