School Construction Report
August 19, 2004The School Construction Report will report on Wake County Public School System construction and facility improvements to meet the growing student enrollment.
BOARD APPROVES PLAN 2004 SCHOOL SITE DESIGNATIONS
At its August 17 meeting, the Board of Education approved locations for
several new schools under the PLAN 2004 capital improvement program.
Two new school locations are designated as E-17 in north Wake County in the vicinity of I-540/Creedmore Road and E-19 which is in east Wake County in the vicinity of I-440 and US 64. A planned elementary school for north Wake County, designated E12, has been shifted slightly north still in the vicinity of US 1 and NC 98
Plan 2004 includes the construction of 13 new schools and a pre-kindergarten center. The general locations for 11 of the new school sites and the pre-kindergarten center site were identified prior to the bond referendum, and the locations of the two remaining school were undesignated. Based on facility needs and population growth, WCPSS Facilities Department and WCPSS Growth Management Department staffs have collaborated to identify the general locations for the remaining school sites.
Once the general locations have been identified, efforts begin to secure property. So far, WCPSS administrators have property for two high schools and three elementary schools in PLAN 2004. They say land prices are on the rise. When board members encouraged creativity in locating new school sites, Superintendent Bill McNeal pointed to recent efforts: Moore Square Middle School located in downtown Raleigh on a small tract of land and the conversion of an Apex manufacturing facility into Lufkin Road Middle School.
School administrators are concerned about rising construction costs, especially the cost for steel. While construction costs pose a concern, school administrators are also watching a dramatic spike in student enrollment. In the first days of this school year, the number of students is 5,300 more than last year.
WCPSS administrators have adjusted the schedule for school openings. Five new facilities will open in 2006 including Holly Springs and Panther Creek high schools, Brier Creek and Harris Creek elementary schools, as well as a third elementary, designated E-10 in the vicinity of I-440 and Rock Quarry Road. Two facilities being used as ninth grade centers will open in 2006 as Carpenter Elementary and East Cary Middle. Six new facilities will open in 2007 including E-18, an elementary school in the Holly Springs area, E-13, an elementary school in southeast Wake County in the vicinity of I-40 and US 70; E-15, an elementary school in east Wake County in the vicinity of Wendell and three elementary schools in north Wake County, E-9, E-12 and E-14, all north of I-540, as well as a pre-k Center in east Wake County in the vicinity of Wendell. A special/optional school is also tentatively scheduled to open in 2007. The two elementary schools, E-17 and E-19, are scheduled to open in 2008.
BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR MARTIN MODULAR UNITS
At its August 17 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a contract for
modular classroom units at Martin Middle School. The board awarded a single-prime
contract to Resun Leasing, Inc. in the amount of $1,093,389. The project
is funded through the PLAN 2000 and PLAN 2004 building programs.
BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR SANDERSON ROOF REPLACEMENT
At its August 17 meeting, the Board of Education awarded a contract for
a roof replacement at Sanderson High. The board awarded a single-prime contract
to Simon Roofing and Sheet Metal Corporation, Inc. in the amount of $173,700.
The project is funded through the PLAN 2000 and PLAN 2004 building programs.
BOARD SELECTS ARCHITECTS FOR SIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECTS
At its August 17 meeting, the Board of Education waived the traditional
designer selection process and named architects for six elementary school
projects.
-Boney, PLLC was selected to adapt their Brier Creek Elementary prototype
for the design of PLAN 2004 elementary schools E-9 to be located in Central
Wake - Area A and E-14 to be located in Northern Wake - Area B
-Pearce, Brinkley, Cease & Lee, P.A. was selected to adapt their Timber
Drive Elementary prototype for the design of PLAN 2004 elementary schools
E-12 to be located in Central Wake - Area A and E-13 to be located in Southeastern
Wake - Area D.
-Cherry Huffman Architects, P.A. was selected to adapt their Holly Springs
Elementary prototype for the design of PLAN 2004 elementary schools E-15
to be located in Eastern Wake - Area F and E-18 to be located on the Holly
Springs High site.
The use of prototype designs will shorten design time, reduce cost, and
help expedite the projects.
The School Construction Report is published electronically for subscribers
to the Wake County Public School System's School Connection and Online Connection.
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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