March 19, 2007 |
VISIT THE WCPSS FACILITIES WEBPAGE
The WCPSS Facilities Design and Construction webpage provides information about the construction of new schools, renovations to existing schools and the latest information parents may want to find about school facilities. The webpage contains links for every school and schools under construction. The webpage describes PLAN 2000, PLAN 2004 and CIP 2006 school building programs, as well as the bid schedule for construction projects. This information can be found at http://www.wcpss.net/facilities/
MOVING FORWARD WITH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
At its March 13 Facilities Committee meeting, the Board of Education directed school staff to work with county staff to determine the amount of funding available to lease a school or schools through public-private partnerships. The amount of funding available would determine the number of schools that could be built above and beyond those in the November 2006 bond referendum. Then, WCPSS staff would be able to bring a more concise timeline and plan of action back to the school board.
The Board of Education is studying public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a financing mechanism for schools. Senate Bill 2009 was ratified in August 2006, giving school systems the ability to enter into a lease for privately-developed public schools. Previously, N.C. school systems could lease and renovate facilities, but now, the Board of Education could identify where schools are needed, provide design and construction specifications to the builders, and then lease the facility upon completion.
One of the advantages of PPPs is that a private group may have access to a property in an area that the school system may have trouble finding a school site.
WCPSS is moving forward with PPPs based on the assumption that the primary goal of PPPs as a financing method is to reduce crowding by acquiring additional capacity above that provided by CIP 2006. While the PPP process may reduce the time needed to acquire school buildings in the future, such time savings may not be realized on the first project(s) undertaken.
Also at the meeting, WCPSS staff provided an overview of the Facilities Design and Construction Department's program management organization and budget. In addition, Mike Burriss, assistant superintendent for facilities, said that he's meeting with municipal and county managers on Wednesday and will ask them to form a study committee to determine how to improve the permitting process.
ASSIGNMENT OF NEW SUBDIVISIONS TO SCHOOLS
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education heard from Assistant Superintendent Chuck Dulaney on the assignment of new subdivisions to schools. Dulaney said new construction continues to erect residences at a rapid rate across the county. From July 2006 through January 2007, Dulaney said WCPSS found more than 11,000 new residential units were recorded with the Wake County Planning Department. From July to November, he said 6,600 new housing units were recorded including more than 3,300 single family homes, 1,100 townhouses and 1,000 apartments.
NAMES PROPOSED FOR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (E-17)
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education heard from Betty Parker of WCPSS Planning and Construction about names for E17, an elementary school proposed on Leesville Road in North Raleigh. Parker said WCPSS staff and officials with the City of Raleigh reviewed the following names: (1) North Leesville Elementary, (2) Sycamore Creek Elementary, (3) Sedgefield Elementary. The board will be asked to officially name the school at its next meeting.
North Leesville is suggested because the site is located approximately 2.2 miles north of the existing Leesville Elementary School. Sycamore Creek is suggested because water draining from the site will flow into Sycamore Creek, which is the nearest notable geographic or natural feature. Sedgefield Elementary is suggested as its intersection location on the north side of the site helps to specifically identify the location of the site. Staff recommends name selection of Sycamore Creek Elementary.
On or about March 16, 2007, the Board of Education will acquire approximately 17.24 acres for a new elementary school in Raleigh, NC, that is scheduled to open in 2008. The property fronts on Leesville Road north of I-540; with its main entrance planned at the intersection with Farless Road. Sedgefield Road, which is a fairly short residential street, also intersects Leesville Road across from the school site.
NAMES PROPOSED FOR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (E-22)
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education heard from Betty Parker of WCPSS Planning and Construction about names for E22, an elementary school proposed near the Cary Park neighborhood. Parker said WCPSS staff and officials with the Town of Cary reviewed the following names: (1) Panther Creek Elementary, (2) Mills Park Elementary, (3) Cary Park Elementary. The board will be asked to officially name the school at its next meeting.
Panther Creek Elementary is suggested because water draining from the site will flow into Panther Creek, which is the nearest notable geographic or natural feature. (Panther Creek High School is located approximately 3 miles northeast of the site.) Mills Park Elementary is suggested because it identifies the road that the school will front on and will help to specifically identify the location of the site. Cary Park Elementary is suggested because of the prior frequent references to the site and the common association of the site with the name. Staff recommends name selection of Mills Park Elementary.
Staff will soon close upon the acquisition of an elementary school site in the E-22 target area in Cary that is scheduled to open in 2008. The site will be co-located with the M-10 middle school site, and Town of Cary park sites. The school site is located near Green Level to Durham Road and will be adjacent to I-540, with its main entrance planned on Mills Park Drive. The Cary Park neighborhood is located in close proximity to the site, whose developer was instrumental in the cost effective acquisition of the site and site development funds donation. Throughout negotiations, the site was frequently referred to as the Cary Park site.
NAMES PROPOSED FOR NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL (M-10)
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education heard from Betty Parker of WCPSS Planning and Construction about names for M10, a middle school proposed near the Cary Park neighborhood. Parker said WCPSS staff and officials with the Town of Cary reviewed the following names: (1) Panther Creek Middle, (2) Mills Park Middle, (3) Cary Park Middle. The board will be asked to officially name the school at its next meeting.
Panther Creek Middle is suggested because water draining from the site will flow into Panther Creek, which is the nearest notable geographic or natural feature. (Panther Creek High School is located approximately 3 miles northeast of the site.) Mills Park Middle is suggested because it identifies the road that the school will front on and will help to specifically identify the location of the site. Cary Park Middle is suggested because of the prior frequent references to the site and the common association of the site with the name. Staff recommends name selection of Mills Park Middle.
Staff will soon close upon the acquisition of a middle school site in the M-10 target area in Cary that is scheduled to open in 2010. The site will be co-located with the E-22 elementary school site, and Town of Cary park sites. The school site is located near Green Level to Durham Road and will be adjacent to I-540, with its main entrance located on Mills Park Drive. The Cary Park neighborhood is located in close proximity to the site, whose developer was instrumental in the cost effective acquisition of the site and site development funds donation. Throughout negotiations, the site was frequently referred to as “the Cary Park site”.
BOARD APPROVES LEASE AGREEMENT – LEASE AMENDMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE FOR WAKE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education approved terms and conditions of a First Amendment to the existing Lease Agreement with Board of Trustees of Wake Technical College to lease additional space known as Suite 102 (containing approximately 2,542 square feet of space) within a building on their WakeMed campus on Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh. The Amendment is within the scope of the existing two year lease which began on July 1, 2006, with opportunities for annual renewals thereafter. The projected use is for administrative space, and a multipurpose space with specific intended uses as a dining facility and classroom for the Wake Early College High School. Rental rate under the original Lease is $1 for the entirety of the initial two year term of the lease, and $1 per year thereafter for any annual renewals. Funding for this lease would come from the Operating Budget.
BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR DURANT ROAD MIDDLE ROOFING
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education awarded the single-prime contract to Sunlife Systems International, Inc., in the amount of $177,500 for the roof repairs and coating of all the low slope roofs at Durant Road Middle School. This project was added to PLAN 2000 Deferred Maintenance due to the deteriorating roof condition causing leakage in the building. The single ply roof had a 10-year warranty. The roof is in year nine and the manufacturer is being pursued for the pro-rated value. Funding is available from the total project budget of $230,000, all of which is from PLAN 2000 Deferred Maintenance.
BOARD APPROVES LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR MODULAR CLASSROOM UNITS AT EAST MILLBROOK MIDDLE
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education approved agreements in the combined total amount of $404,987.97 with Vanguard Modular Building Systems for the lease payments for three eight-classroom modular complexes and three multi-purpose modular complexes required for the renovation and addition project at East Millbrook Middle School. These are for swing space required for the renovation project. Funding is available from the project budget of $30,995,052, of which $3,470,802 is from PLAN 2004, $109,089 from PLAN 2000 Start up, and $27,415,161 from CIP 2006.
BOARD APPROVES CHANGE ORDER FOR RIVER BEND ELEMENTARY (E-19)
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education approved Change Order No. GC-02 to Barnhill Contracting Company, Inc., for their Construction Management at Risk contract for construction of the new River Bend Elementary School. This change order, in the amount of $16,236,973, is to establish a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the construction of this project. Funding is available from the total project budget of $22,382,020, of which $2,292,654 is from PLAN 2004, $19,511,165 from CIP 2006 and $578,201 from CIP 2006 Offsite Improvements.
BOARD APPROVES CHANGE ORDER FOR BANKS ROAD ELEMENTARY (E-23)
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education approved Change Order No. GC-02 to Barnhill Contracting Company, Inc., for their Construction Management at Risk contract for construction of the new Banks Road Elementary School near Fuquay-Varina. This change order, in the amount of $17,436,497, is to establish a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the construction of this project. This GMP includes the Town of Fuquay-Varina’s park development, which will be funded by the Town of Fuquay-Varina and Wake County. Funding is available from the total project budget of $22,889,069, of which $745,000 is from PLAN 2004; $21,159,465 from CIP 2006; $575,440 from CIP 2006 Offsite Improvements; and $409,164 will be provided by the Town of Fuquay-Varina and the Wake County Parks and Recreation Department for additional ball fields, parking and utilities for future upgrades to the park facility.
BOARD APPROVES CHANGE ORDER FOR LYNN ROAD ELEMENTARY
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education approved Change Order No. GC-02 to Centex Construction Company for their Construction Management at Risk contract for the renovations and additions at Lynn Road Elementary. This change order, in the amount of $13,561,928, is to establish a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for all but the landscaping bid package for this project. That package will be re-bid in the future to obtain a more competitive price and presented at a future Board meeting. A list of the bid packages is attached. Funding is available from the total project budget of $22,098,150, of which $1,206,943 is from Plan 2004 and $20,891,207 from CIP 2006.
BOARD APPROVES CHANGE ORDER FOR SANFORD CREEK ELEMENTARY
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education approved Change Order No. 10 to DeVere Construction Company, Inc. This change order, in the amount of $118,124.84, is for all the playground equipment for Sanford Creek Elementary. The original bid documents did not include the playground equipment. Funding is available from the total project budget of $19,123,008, all of which is from PLAN 2004.
BOARD NAMES DESIGN CONSULTANT FOR LACY ELEMENTARY
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education named Skinner Lamm & Highsmith Architects, PA, for the design of additions and renovations at Lacy Elementary, a project in the CIP 2006 School Building Program. The form of agreement is the standard form approved by the Board attorney. Funding is available from the total project budget of $21,854,837 of which $525,000 is from PLAN 2004 Start Up and $21,329,837 from CIP 2006. The total project budget includes proposed compensation for the design consultant of $858,051. A separate agreement in the amount of $85,805.10 was previously issued for design through schematic design.
BOARD NAMES DESIGN CONSULTANT FOR ROOT ELEMENTARY
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education named GMK of North Carolina, PC, d/b/a Ramsay GMK for the design of the additions and renovations at Root Elementary, a project in the CIP 2006 School Building Program. The form of agreement is the standard form approved by the Board attorney. Funding is available from the total project budget of $19,930,017, of which $300,000 is from PLAN 2004 Start Up and $19,630,017 from CIP 2006. The total project budget includes proposed compensation for the design consultant of $876,236. Separate agreements totaling $111,923.60, were previously issued for design through schematic design.
BOARD NAMES DESIGN CONSULTANT FOR CHILD NUTRITION SERVICES ADDITION
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education named H.S. Annis Architect, AIA, for the design of an addition to the Child Nutrition Services warehouse at the Central Services Complex, a project in the CIP 2006 School Building Program. The form of agreement is the standard form approved by the Board attorney. Funding is available from the total project budget of $2,778,383, all of which is from CIP 2006. The total project budget includes proposed compensation for the design consultant of $147,800.
BOARD NAMES DESIGN CONSULTANT FOR SMITH ELEMENTARY
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education named Shuller Ferris Lindstrom + Associates for the design of the additions and renovations at Smith Elementary, a project in the CIP 2006 School Building Program. Negotiations were completed with Brown Architecture, Inc., for the design of this project, and the agreement was approved by the board on Feb. 6, 2007. Before the contract was fully executed, Brown Architecture, Inc. was acquired by another firm, Shuller Ferris Lindstrom + Associates. A new agreement, with terms identical to the previous contract, has been executed with Shuller Ferris Lindstrom + Associates.
BOARD APPROVES MATERIALS TESTING CONSULTANT FOR HERITAGE HIGH
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education named Trigon Engineering Consultants, Inc., to provide construction materials testing and inspection services for Heritage High School in the amount of $260,000, in accordance with the Master Service Agreement for Geotechnical/Materials Testing Services and the Individual Project Proposal Agreement. Funding is available from the total budget of $62,568,407, of which $1,564,638 is from PLAN 2000 Start-Up, $513,391 from PLAN 2004, $56,129,055 from CIP 2006, $1,253,301 from CIP 2006 Offsite Improvements, and $3,108,022 from the Town of Wake Forest and the Wake County Parks and Recreation Department for additional ball fields and upgrades to the school’s ball fields.
BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR MODULAR UNITS AT KNIGHTDALE HIGH
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a single-prime contract to CoMark Building Systems, Inc., in the amount of $162,244 to provide 28 modular classroom units at Knightdale High for needed seating capacity. Work includes the delivery, installation of footers, block, level, and tie-down for the units. Funding is available from the total project budget of $16,935,553, all of which is from the CIP 2006 Mobile Classroom Relocation and Leasing, 2007-2009 project.
BOARD APPROVES RENEWAL OF LEASE FOR MODULAR CAMPUS
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education approved the terms and conditions of a renewal of the ground lease with the National Alumni Association of Dubois High School (Dubois) which will provide approximately 6.22 acres for a modular school complex, and an opportunity for use of the existing gymnasium. The facility will be used as the ninth grade center for Wake Forest-Rolesville High School. The lease term is five years beginning August 1, 2007, and terminating on June 30, 2012, with an option to renew this lease for a maximum of 5 years beyond the initial lease term with option term lease payments increasing by 3 percent annually.
The school system is still determining whether to renovate and use the gymnasium. The lease will be $45,570 per year if the gym is used or $37,800 per year if the gym is not used. The agreement indicates $26,000 will be paid in the form of a credit against a Note of Dubois to the Board of Education until the Note is paid in full, after which annual payments will be made without credit or setoff. (The current Note balance is $52,000.)
BOARD DECLARES A PORTION OF THE LEESVILLE ROAD CAMPUS SURPLUS
At its March 6 meeting, the Board of Education declared a three-acre portion of the Leesville Road campus surplus. The board owns 104.91 acres of land on Country Trail known as the Leesville Road Schools tract that it currently uses for Leesville Road High School, Middle School and Elementary School. The property includes an unusable portion at the southern end of the property that is separated from the main body of the tract by Country Trail, and its limited size and shape prohibit cost effective school uses. The particular portion sought to be declared as surplus at this time is only the three acre portion of the property that lies south of Country Trail and adjacent to a tract owned by City of Raleigh. Upon approval from the Board of Education, staff will implement Board Policy 7250, Disposal of Real Property.
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