Guilford County Schools will move forward with contract negotiations for construction materials testing and special inspections on nine priority projects. The GCS Board of Education authorized staff to negotiate contracts with engineering firms recommended by the Architect Selection Committee.

Construction is expected to begin on six Guilford County School (GCS) priority projects late this summer and into the start of the 2015-16 school year. In March, Guilford County commissioners approved allocating $60 million to start work on renovations and expansions at Northwood Elementary and High Point Central High, new traffic patterns at Dudley and Northwest High, renovations and upgrades at Bluford Elementary and a replacement school for Hunter Elementary. Staff will be advertising for bids on those projects over the next few months and then start construction.

Commissioners voted not to release money needed to start construction on the remaining three priority projects at Western High, Smith High and Guilford Middle until the summer of 2016.

The nine priority projects are being paid for by money saved on earlier 2008 bond construction projects and redirected funds from the Airport Area High School project. 

In 2008, Guilford County voters approved $457 million in school construction bonds. To date, more than $350 million has been spent or is currently under contract.

The board also awarded the contract for the 2015 HVAC and renovations project at Ragsdale High to The Bar Construction Company, Inc. for $2,035,000, approximately $800,000 under budget and the HVAC renovations project at Hampton Elementary was awarded to H.M. Kern Corp. for $1,465,000.