Progress Underway on 2008 School Bond Projects

Projects feature new construction, renovations and heating and air conditioning upgrades

Contact: Lillian M. Govus (336) 370-8997
Created: 6/25/2009 10:31:24 PM

Voters approved the 2008 School Bonds almost one year ago, and since then, Guilford County Schools (GCS) has been busy planning and designing most of the 27 projects. With those, GCS will add more than 6,500 new student seats and five new schools to help relieve overcrowding. Additionally, upgrades are being made to outdated heating and air conditioning systems across the district. Recently, GCS finalized the purchase of land to house the new “Special Education Center West.” The Building Advisory Team is meeting regularly, and nominations for possible school names have been submitted to the Board of Education for review. These nominations will be opened to the public for 30 days. On July 23, a public hearing will be held to review the names, and the board will vote on the final name on Aug. 11.

The construction drawings for the school, being built adjacent to the new Jamestown Middle, are 90 percent complete. Site clearing is underway, and the bid packages are currently being developed for the building phase. The new special education center will open in the fall of 2010. With land purchased from the 2003 School Bonds, construction at Jamestown Middle began quickly. Steel erection is continuing, while bar joists are being set and the site continues to undergo grading. Once completed in the fall of 2010, the school will hold more than 1,000 students.

When students move to the new Jamestown Middle, the old school will become part of the Ragsdale High campus, which will undergo its own renovation and see the addition of a new gym and media center. The Ragsdale Building Advisory Team has received the completed schematic designs from the architect. Security camera installation in the existing school is underway. In addition, a separate planning group has been set up to explore design considerations for the autism facility. The projects at Southeast High and Southeast Middle were bundled together to create design and construction efficiencies by using a single architect and a single contractor. With the architect’s schematic designs complete, plans are underway to relocate mobile classrooms to make room for construction. The design process features 40 percent participation by Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBEs). Both schools will receive new media centers, and the high school will build new classrooms and a gymnasium addition. The middle school will see a new auxiliary gym and dining room and the conversion of the old media center into classroom space.

Eastern High, which opened doors to students on April 20, will see the construction of tennis courts and practice fields during the summer. Maintenance crews are removing the mobile classroom canopies and stone bases, which will be reused where needed in the district. At Alamance Elementary, Summerfield Elementary and Southwest High, schematic designs for new classrooms are complete, and Building Advisory Teams are meeting to work on individual project details. Mobile classrooms are being removed where necessary, and local governing bodies are reviewing construction plans.

The construction of new classrooms and the auxiliary gym at Allen Middle, while in the design stages, features 60 percent involvement by MWBEs. The Building Advisory Team is studying the program capacity for the existing building as it reviews schematic designs. At Grimsley High, the Building Advisory Team is reviewing plans for a new dining room addition and renovations to the main gym. The old dining room will be converted into new classroom space. This project currently has 85 percent MWBE participation.

Still in the initial phases of design, Building Advisory Teams have not yet formed for the projects at northern Greensboro area elementary, airport area autism wing and high school, Allen Jay Middle, Dudley High, High Point Central High and McLeansville Elementary. The Department of Facilities has concluded negotiations for design services at Northwest High and Northwest Middle. In addition to construction projects, heating and air conditioning upgrades are slated across the district. To prevent disruption to the students and staff, these projects must be completed when classes are not in session. Smith High received a boiler replacement last summer. Boiler replacement design is currently underway for projects at Jamestown Elementary, Colfax Elementary, Jackson Middle, Guilford Middle, Alderman Elementary, Kirkman Park Elementary and Northwest High. In addition, Andrews High is undergoing a feasibility analysis.

The final component of the 2008 School Bonds is athletic facility projects. Dudley, High Point Central, Grimsley, Ragsdale, Northwest and Page High Schools will receive track and/or stadium upgrades. In addition, Simeon Stadium, which serves schools in High Point, will be included in this project. Part of the 2003 School Bonds, construction is wrapping up at Union Hill Elementary, and the replacement school will open in the fall. In addition, the project for the Southern Middle track is underway.

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About Guilford County Schools

Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 71,000 students at 120 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens prepared to succeed in higher education or the career of their choice. 

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.