Building Futures

January 7, 2007

The 2003 construction bond referendum has given the students at Guilford County Schools a much needed upgrade to their academic environments. Many projects are already completed.

The newest school to open its doors is Stokesdale Elementary . Although it was contractually scheduled to be completed in November 2007, it opened 11 months early on December 18, 2006. Not only did the school get a new addition, media center and multi-purpose room, but renovations were done to the old building.

Also open early is the brand-new Gibsonville Elementary . Situated next door to the old Gibsonville Elementary, the new school features a bright, well-lit and airy design that provides a welcoming and inviting learning environment for its students.

The new year means a new school for GCS - Northern Middle opens its doors to students on January 24, 2007. The building itself provides a learning opportunity for students. Northern Middle was built with "green construction," and many aspects of the building and its landscaping showcase sustainable features. Besides teaching students environmental responsibility, the green construction helps reduce long-term heating, cooling and electrical costs. In addition, the rainwater runoff catchment system fills water reserves that can be used for fire sprinklers, toilet flushing and irrigating playing fields.

Two more projects open in early 2007. Southern High's addition is almost complete and the media center was finished early. The entire project finishes in January. Southwest High's classroom building and auxiliary gym will also see student occupation in January.

Other schools with completed construction include:

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

Ferndale Middle, opening in February, will see the addition of cafeteria and classroom spaces.

In March, Oak View Elementary welcomes students to 13 new classrooms and two resource rooms. There will also be general renovations, such as accessibility, technology and air/heating upgrades.

Construction on the new Southern Middle is expected to be complete in April. Those traveling down Drake Road will see the brick work complete on the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade wings. The framing for the main and auxiliary gyms is up, and the exterior finish materials are installed. The teacher parking lot and bus loops are paved. The athletic fields are seeded, and the final grading on the ball fields is complete.

Just in time for the new school year, Guilford Primary's replacement, Guilford Elementary, is on schedule to wrap up construction in August 2007. The roads and parking area are paved. The building shell is 85% complete, and interior work is progressing nicely.

Northern High , located next-door to the new Northern Middle, will open its doors to students in January 2008. Using precast panels, construction is moving swiftly, and already, window frames are being installed throughout the entire facility. All precast panels have been erected, and the roof is installed over 80% of the building. Concrete floors are being poured, and electrical, plumbing, HVAC and sprinkler work is continuing throughout the building. The skylight system is underway, and the water and septic systems will wrap up construction in January under the middle school contract. The second floor topping slab is already in place for both science classrooms and the hallway around the assembly area. The auditorium is in construction with the steel for the balcony erected. The athletic fields are finished with Bermuda grass already sprigged. The stadium irrigation lines are being installed, and the field is on its way to being established.

Two new elementary schools will open in 2007: Northwest Elementary in July and Reedy Fork in the early fall. But no school welcomes the hard hats more than Parkview Elementary , which in August of 2007 will see the completion of its first major construction in almost 50 years. The school will add a new administrative area, six classrooms, two resource rooms, a new multi-purpose room and a media center. In addition, there will be general renovations, such as accessibility, technology and air/heating upgrades.

The final school to open in 2007 will be the new Northern Elementary . The early site package is already complete, including the paving base.

With so much either already finished or in construction thanks to the 2003 construction bond referendum, it's hard to believe there's more to come, like projects at Pleasant Garden Elementary, Union Hill Elementary and Special Education Center - West.

The new Gibsonville Elementary opened its doors to students right after Thanksgiving break

New classroom additions are nearly complete at Ferndale Middle

Construction at the new Northern High is rolling right along

Building Futures - October 2, 2006

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 Schools is 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.