Building Futures

October 2 , 2006

Whether older schools are being renovated or new schools are being created, construction crews are busy across Guilford County helping the district’s students strive, achieve and excel in new and updated classrooms.

Seven of the projects approved in the 2003 Construction Bond Referendum are now complete. These projects include:

• Florence Elementary
• Irving Park Elementary
• Madison Elementary
• Morehead Elementary
• Northeast Middle
• Peck Elementary
• Peeler Elementary

The students, faculty and staff are already benefiting from the completed construction projects. “The new construction has allowed the Expressive Arts Program to expand and flourish,” Morehead Elementary Principal Darcy Kemp said.

At Peck Elementary, Principal Francine Mallory said the benefits from the recent construction are felt by all. “The enlarged cafeteria allows the lunch blocks to begin later resulting in more instructional time in the morning when students are best able to learn,” she explained. “More classes can eat at one time which makes the stay in line shorter and allows more time for actual eating and developing the social skills that children so greatly need.” Mallory said she has received nothing but compliments from the parents and teachers regarding the physical changes at Peck.   

Currently, 14 projects are in construction across the district. These projects include:

• Northeast High
• Gibsonville Elementary
• Southwest High
• Northern Middle
• Southern High
• Ferndale Middle
• Oak View Elementary
• Southern Middle
• Guilford Elementary
• Stokesdale Elementary
• Northern High
• Northwest Elementary
• Reedy Fork Elementary
• Parkview Elementary

On schedule to be completed in December of this year, workmen have been busy at Northern Middle School. The building is dried-in, and exterior masonry is complete. Workers are tiling the bathrooms, and exterior drop-off area canopies are in construction. The courtyard sidewalks are 75% complete, and top soil is being spread around the building. Construction has started on the living machine, a series of water treatment cells containing live plants, microorganisms and bacteria. The athletic fields are sprigged with Bermuda grass and irrigation systems are installed. Also a benefit to the construction of Northern High School, widening of Spencer Dixon Road is 75% complete.

Stokesdale Elementary got a big boost from recent construction, most of which is already finished ahead of schedule, and the entire project is under-budget. Although it wasn’t scheduled to be completed until January, the new classroom and administration building was turned over in August. 
“It’s nice to be able to have grade levels in a concentrated area,” Stokesdale Principal Mary Williams explained. “There is a space for everyone this year. Opening school in the new building has been phenomenal – it’s clean, it’s new, it’s fresh.”

Although the total construction package at Southern High is not scheduled to be complete until January 2007, several projects are done, including:

• New casework, ceilings and floors in the office and administration areas
• New ceilings and sprinkler systems in renovated areas
• Interior renovations to the guidance area
• Second-floor renovation including two new science classrooms and one new business classroom
• Occupancy for the media center and dining areas
• 100% finalized fire protection
• Roof decking

The new classroom and auxiliary gym addition is in progress, and all structural steel has been erected. The exterior brickwork is almost completed.

Parkview Elementary’s construction was approved by the Board of Education in August, and the architect is currently making the final adjustments to the plans and specifications. According to Principal Vicki Miller, the hard hats will be a much-welcomed sight: “Parkview is 50 years old and has not undergone any major renovation with the exception of the addition of air conditioning to our building. We are excited about the new wing and will look forward to its completion!” The construction is expected to be complete in August of 2007.

Oak View Elementary is eagerly awaiting completion of construction at the school in February 2007. “When completed,” Principal Heather Bare explained, “the building will house all of our Pre-K and kindergarten classes. There will be room for two first-grade classes, as well. We will also have room for resources such as ESOL and EC. The completion of the project will bring Pre-K through first grade to the same building or in close proximity of each other, which will assist teachers in team planning and instruction. The new building will make school much safer for our youngest students. They will not have to travel as far to mobiles or be isolated out back. The entire school will benefit by allowing for all grade levels to work closer to their teams. All in all, the construction will make life easier for our students, parents and staff.” 

Seven additional construction projects are in the design stages. They are:

• Guilford Middle
• Jamestown Middle
• Northern Elementary
• Pleasant Garden Elementary
• Ragsdale High
• Special Education West
• Union Hill Elementary

Construction costs have sky-rocketed nationwide, but GCS has been as judicious as possible with bond dollars. The last 44 projects have been completed under budget. According to the Department of Public Instruction, the state has seen a 42% increase in construction costs, but GCS has experienced a rise just over 10% in the same amount of time. Dave Smith, Program Director of 2003’s $300 Million Bond Construction Bond Program attributes the lower rate of inflation to project reviews, strict compliance to programming, strategic value engineering and keeping a close eye on the taxpayer’s money.

"Our school district has tremendous needs for increased capacity,” Smith said. “We continue to grow by leaps and bounds each year. Our vigilance and efforts to keep these projects on schedule and within budget are paramount to the success of future bond referendums. We are committed to that task!”

Classroom buildings are more than 80% complete at Gibsonville Elementary, which is on schedule to be completed in late November.

The new dining room at Peck Elementary has had widespread benefits for the entire school.

The classroom and cafeteria additions are almost complete at Ferndale, where construction is on schedule to be completed in January of 2007.

Building Futures - July 5, 2006

Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 70,000 students at 115 schools. With approximately 9,700 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens who are college/work ready.

Guilford County Schoolsis a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship. For more information, visit the district’s Web site at www.gcsnc.com.