Construction Underway
We are in the second year of our 2006 Capital Improvement Plan, which calls for major renovations to 13 existing schools and the construction of 17 new schools to be opened between 2008 and 2011. As part of our ongoing building program, this year we opened three new year-round schools, bringing the number of year-round schools to 49 and the total number of schools in the system to 156. Our three new year-roundelementary schools are Laurel Park Elementary, Mills Park Elementary and Sycamore Creek Elementary. Next year we will open four new schools; two of them are future elementary school facilities that could potentially open as middle schools for the first year to help ease crowding (see map).
While renovations continue, a few special construction projects, much larger in nature, required students to move to temporary facilities or swing space while their campus is being renovated. At each swing school,
accommodations are made for a cafeteria, main office, and enough classrooms to serve students in a safe learning environment.
Smith Elementary and Root Elementary both started the school year at swing space in order to make way for renovations at their schools. Smith Elementary has moved to a swing school at the new Banks Road Elementary. Banks Road is located at 10225 Chambers Road in Raleigh. Smith Elementary’s renovations are expected to be complete by 2009 and Banks Road Elementary will open as a new school that same year.
Root Elementary moved to a temporary modular campus at North Hills East. The North Hills East campus is located at 305 Church at North Hills Street in Raleigh. Root Elementary will remain there until the Fall/Winter of 2009 when renovations are expected to be complete.
Upcoming Relocations
During winter break, Wilburn Elementary will move to a swing space modular campus and students will continue the school year in their temporary location at 3851 Spring Forest Road in Raleigh, with an additional 8-classroom modular to accommodate their program. They will be there until the summer of 2010 when their renovations are scheduled to be completed.
River Bend Elementary will move out of their temporary location at the Spring Forest modular campus over Thanksgiving break and will start Monday, December 1 in their new permanent school building at 6710 Perry Creek Road in Raleigh.
Parents interested in learning about their school’s construction status may visit the WCPSS Facilities Department website for a complete list at www.wcpss.net/facilities/, in the General Information section, under “Bond Program Projects,” and by clicking on “CIP 2006.” Each major renovation project and new school project is listed and updated regularly.