October 2 , 2007

BOARD COMMITTEE HEARS SWING SPACE OPTIONS
At its Sept. 25 Facilities Committee meeting, the Board of Education reviewed three different swing space options WCPSS Facilities staff presented for Root and Wilburn elementary schools.

The completion of the permanent facility for River Bend Elementary has been delayed until December 2008. The options presented by WCPSS Facilities staff meet the needs of other schools that were to use the temporary modular campus on Spring Forest Road where River Bend is currently located.

The first option would cost the least and allows Root to open on time and Wilburn to open early. This option involves placing a temporary modular campus to serve as swing space for Root on a North Hills East site. With Root using the St. Albans site, Wilburn would move to the temporary modular campus on Spring Forest Road in January 2009 once River Bend Elementary moves into its completed permanent facility. Under this option, renovations to the Wilburn campus would start and finish 5 months early. It also means the Spring Forest swing space would be available in 2010 or 2011 for other schools that might undergo major renovation in the next bond. The total cost for the project is $1,562,500.

The second option cost an additional $85,000 and would delay the opening of both Root and Wilburn. This option puts Root next in line for the Spring Forest campus once River Bend moves. However, this means Root would have to start 7 months late and would finish 6 months behind schedule in May 2010. Under this option, renovations at Wilburn would also be delayed for one year until swing space is available at E-21, a site in North Eastern Raleigh. The Spring Forest Swing space would still be available in 2010 or 2011 for other schools to use under the next bond. The total cost for the project is $1,647,917.

The third option is the most expensive and involves even further delays. It would move Root to Spring Forest, followed by Wilburn. As mentioned in option two, Root would finish in May 2010. Then Wilburn would start one year later than planned in July 2010. Wilburn would finish in August 2011, meaning the Spring Forest swing space would not be available to other schools targeted for the next bond. The total cost for this project is $2,647,917.

CFAC RELEASES SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION REPORT
The Wake County Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) presented its initial report on WCPSS’s facilities and building program to the Wake County Board of Education and Board of Commissioners on Sept. 19.

The report focused on three major areas of school construction: planning and site selection, program and design, and project delivery. After evaluating the system’s design, management, and delivery methods, the committee reported to the two boards that their review affirmed many current policies and practices and made recommendations for further study as well as 27 recommendations. Some of the key recommendations include creating a peer review committee for site plans, buying and holding land for future development, reducing space in non-classroom areas such as media centers and parking lots, combining cafeterias and auditoriums, and providing more oversight during the construction process.

“We anticipate certain cost savings will be achieved and school construction will be improved if the recommendations included in this report are reviewed and implemented,” said CFAC Co-chair, John Mabe. “One of the areas we think schools can save is in the early stages of when site plans are being developed.

Before taking any action on the recommendations, board chair Rosa Gill says WCPSS will begin to review the report and get the community’s feedback.

“We will do our best to look at each of these recommendations,” said Gill, “if there are cost savings benefits which don’t interfere with our educational program, we will work to implement them.”

The Citizen’s Facilities Advisory Committee was jointly formed by the Board of Commissioners and Board of Education in June 2006. The committee is composed of 13 business and community leaders having knowledge and understanding of school capital.

BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR MODULAR UNIT AT LINCOLN HEIGHTS
At the Sept. 19 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a single-prime contract to C. Blake Lewis Construction in the amount of $246,935 for relocating and connecting/installing all services (power, water, sewer, data, ADA access, fire protection, and security) required for permitted occupancy for a six classroom modular unit at Lincoln Heights Elementary School. 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 CHANGE ORDER FOR SYCAMORE CREEK
At the Sept. 19 meeting, the Board of Education approved Change Order CM-03 to Barnhill Contracting Company for their Construction Manager at Risk contract to construct Sycamore Creek Elementary. This change order, in the amount of $12,862,977, is to establish a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the “Release 2” package, which includes 33 of the 41 construction packages for this project. The total GMP for this project is $20,000,136. This is $2,817,855 over budget, primarily due to site conditions and the accelerated work schedule needed to complete this school for a delayed year-round opening in August 2008. The total proposed project budget is $24,699,862, of which $1,708,291 is from PLAN 2004 and $21,273,716 is from CIP 2006. A reallocation from CIP 2006 Program Contingency will be presented in the future to provide the $1,717,855 in additional funds.

BOARD APPROVES SALE OF SURPLUS LAND AT THE LEESVILLE ROAD CAMPUS
At the Sept. 19 meeting, the Board of Education approved the sale of 2.8 acres of surplus land at the Leesville Road campus. 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. It 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 is adjacent to a tract owned by City of Raleigh and consists of approximately 2.8 acres of the property. The Board of Education declared it as surplus property and ordered its sale on March 6, 2007. At its March 12, 2007 meeting, the Wake County Board of Commissioners confirmed that the county had an interest in acquiring the surplus property at fair market value. Terms and conditions of an Offer to Purchase and Contract have been reached to sell the 2.8 acre surplus tract to Wake County at a purchase price of $450,000. The property is further identified as portion of Wake County PIN #0787386736, and Wake County Tax Account #0064017.

BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR ENLOE HIGH BOILER UPGRADE
At the Sept. 19 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a $247,506 contract to Welding Specialties and Mechanical Services, Inc. for the Enloe High boiler upgrade. The existing boilers on west campus are approximately 50 years old, and they have deteriorated to the point that they can no longer be repaired re-certified for use by the North Carolina Department of Labor. Funds are available from the Plan 2000 Modernization Budget.

BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR REPLACEMENT OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEM AT MORRISVILLE
At the Sept. 19 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a single-prime contract to North Carolina Systems Service Company in the amount of $119,833 for the replacement of the fire alarm system at Morrisville Elementary. Funding is available from the total PLAN 2000 Priority Needs project budget of $1,947,628.

BOARD APPROVES EASEMENT FOR ROAD WIDENING PROJECT AT SWIFT CREEK AND DILLARD DRIVE
At its Sept. 19 meeting, the Board of Education approved an easement with the City of Raleigh
for improving and widening Tryon Road, Yates Mill Pond Road and Dillard Drive to relieve congestion and reduce travel time. The City plans to begin construction in September 2007 and construction should last approximately 18 months.

The effect of the roadway improvements on Swift Creek Elementary (Tryon Road/Yates Mill Pond Road) will include the removal of plant and landscape materials, the relocation and reinstallation of the school sign to a location of the WCPSS’ choice, and modifications to the access to and from the campus parking lots. Multiple easements have been requested by the City and are stated within the proposed Deed of Easement. They are: a Street Right-of-Way Easement; a Sloping Easement; an Electric Utility Easement; a Temporary Construction Easement; and a Temporary Easement for Driveway Repair and Reconnection. The city will compensate the Board of Education for the acquisition of all easements required along Tryon and Yates Mill Pond Roads.

The effect of the roadway improvements on Dillard Drive Elementary (Dillard Drive) is minimal and the city requests that a temporary construction easement be granted to accommodate the improvements. The requested easement will not substantially interfere with the present or future use of the property.

The City of Raleigh will compensate the Wake County Board of Education in the amount of $71,500 for the easements involving Swift Creek Elementary. Funds will be allocated to the General Fund. There is no fiscal impact concerning the temporary construction easement involving Dillard Drive Elementary.

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