Building designs for school bond projects prepared

Preliminary floor plan designs for four of the new construction projects outlined in the $50 million school bond referendums have been prepared and on display at several locations throughout the county.

Carteret County voters approved the two bonds in November 2005. The preliminary floor plan designs are ready for the new construction projects set for Bogue Sound Elementary, East Carteret High, Newport Elementary and White Oak Elementary.

“This is an exciting time as all these projects gain momentum and we begin seeing designs and work taking place,” Dr. Lenker said. “We are appreciative of the confidence voters placed in the school system by approving these bonds, and we also appreciate the support the county continues to give us as we work to be efficient and effective with each dollar.

“Four preliminary designs are now ready and we encourage stakeholders from across the county to view the plans to see what will be happening in the coming months,” Dr. Lenker added.

The four designs are on display in the school system’s central office in Beaufort and in the Chamber of Commerce office in Morehead City, and are posted on the school system’s website at www.carteretcountyschools.org. Designs for each of the new construction projects are also on display at the four schools.

Provided the bidding process goes smoothly, Bond Project Manager Keith Maready expects actual work on the new construction projects at Bogue Sound Elementary School and East Carteret High School to start in the spring of 2007. Mr. Maready said construction of the new classroom buildings at Newport Elementary School and White Oak Elementary School would start before the fall of 2007.

Bogue Sound Elementary School’s west wing will be extended for the addition of six new classrooms. The school’s heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) system will be modified to improve humidity control and ventilation. The school’s septic system will also be upgraded as part of the bond work.

East Carteret High School will see a new classroom building on the east side of the campus. The building will feature 17 regular classrooms, six science rooms with labs, one computer lab, tiolet facilities, and an administration area. In another phase of the bond work, the high school’s existing buildings will also see major renovations, including interior painting, renovating the HVAC system, constructing a new roof, installing new windows throughout the school, replacing door sweeps and refinishing the stage floor.

Newport Elementary School’s new construction will include a new building to be located between the school’s gym and kindergarten wing. The building will include 15 regular classrooms, 1 art classroom, toilets and an administrative area. Later, the school’s existing buildings will also see major renovations, including installing new roofs, renovating the HVAC system, replacing many windows and reglazing others, and replacing door seals. The school’s gym will be air conditioned and the exterior will be painted as part of the bond work.

White Oak Elementary School will see a new classroom building constructed behind the fifth grade building. The new building will include 15 regular classrooms, 1 art classroom and toilets. Other new construction work at the school will include expanding the media center and the seating area in the cafeteria, and renovating the kitchen and serving line area. In later phases of the bond work, the roofs will be replaced on the existing school buildings and the school’s HVAC system will be renovated. The gym will be air conditioned and receive a new roof.

            The bond also funded roof replacement work at Beaufort Middle School and Broad Creek Middle School. Supplies have been delivered and work is in process at both sites.

Mr. Maready reported that several bond projects have already been completed.

Renovation of the HVAC system in the office area at Broad Creek Middle School and the HVAC system in the fifth grade wing at Newport Elementary School has been completed. The HVAC units in those two areas failed during the summer. The entire HVAC systems at those two schools will be completely renovated as part of the bond work. However, instead of spending school maintenance funds and labor to temporarily fix the two sections, Mr. Maready suggested bond money be used and those two areas be upgraded first as part of the overall bond project.

The bond provided for the resurfacing of the tennis courts and track at West Carteret High School, and that work has been completed.

Updates on other bond projects at these four schools and at other schools throughout the county, along with work taking place and actions by the Board of Education related to these projects are posted at www.carteretcountyschools.org.