Construction advisory group refines focus
In a meeting today, construction advisory committee decided today it can be of most help to Guilford County Schools by helping the district come up with comprehensive design guidelines and educational specifications for the schools it builds.
These guidelines could cover everything from materials used in the physical structure, to space planning to the educational programs in a school. The group would also seek to answer questions such as "What are we doing that's tried and true?," "What have we done in that past that no longer works?" and "What areas are evolving based on new information and how is this change happening?"
Up until now, the group has been visiting new schools and reviewing blueprints to get an idea of the district's building approach. Members agreed that now is the time to figure out how to better communicate building standards to architects, designers and contractors as a way to keep costs down and be more accountable to the public.
Committee members present at the meeting today included Gary Paul Kane, past chairman of TREBIC, Robert Powell, an architect who teaches at N.C. A&T, Jeff Deal, a project manager for Laughlin-Sutton Construction Co. and school board member Darlene Garrett. Facilities staff present included Chief Operations Officer Leo Bobadilla, 2003 bond program director Dennis Cole and purchasing director John Mann.
If you want to get a better idea of where the committee and the district is going, check out my construction trends story running Sunday. It is part of a three-part series that goes into more detail about what direction the district is going in on a proposed 2008 bond. The committee also broached a topic that I cover in the series-- comparisons in cost and features between Reagan and Northern high schools. That story is scheduled to run Sept. 30.
The group spent a lot of time talking about Bobadilla's experience with school construction in Orange County, Fla. (he was school facilities director there before coming here in August.) Bobadilla said the district had a very structured building program because it was spending $300 million to $400 million a year on new/renovated schools. Plus, some land in that area has been going for $1 million an acre, requiring some creativity in design. Bobadilla said the district also had a citizens oversight committee made of auditors, maintenance and real estate experts, etc., who oversaw the building program.
The group will next meet on Oct. 16 to discuss comparisons on Northern and Reedy Fork elementaries, energy programs and a preliminary schedule for developing district educational specifications.
Comments (9)
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a guideline of what is needed and expected would help in costs. If you are an architect and told build this school for $40 million, they they draw it with what they can fit in the money. If the bids go over, then you cut stuff. I think what should happen is, design a school for $40 Million, if the bids go over, then the architect has to start over!
Posted on September 19, 2007 11:54 AM
We are looking forward with great interest to your story this weekend comparing Northern and Reagan. That should be very revealing.
Posted on September 19, 2007 1:31 PM
Wally World,
That story runs Sept. 30. The first story is on construction trends.
Posted on September 19, 2007 3:12 PM
The BOE is a lot like the Greensboro City Council. They like eating at the Chop House when they should be eating at the J & S Cafeteria. We don't have the wealth and growth that supports this disire for high living. Ideas like using the Cafeteria at Eastern instead of building a new one are not considered. If your house burned down, wouldn't you like all new furniture instead of some of your used that was saved from the fire. The BOE thinks going first class, is the best in the long run. The problem with this is that it is tax money and sometimes the Government has wait like the majority of the families do. We can't raise taxes 8 or 9 cents a year and survive. It is a fact of life. Also, we go first class in Supt. salary, first class for administrator salaries, Principal salaries and beginning teacher salaries. If you want more money, you could cut back in these areas. You can't have it all. To try is selfish and inconsiderate of other needs in the county. It is called fiscal discipline. We must have it.
Posted on September 19, 2007 4:47 PM
Well-said Joe. But, is anyone on the BOE really listening? Fiscal discipline? As you know, this school district seems to have a problem with the concept of discipline of any sort.
Speaking of fiscal discipline, isn't the CFO accountable for it within an organization? We may top dollar for that position, and it appears that we are getting a person that produces reports.
Posted on September 20, 2007 9:52 AM
Well-said Joe. But, is anyone on the BOE really listening? Fiscal discipline? As you know, this school district seems to have a problem with the concept of discipline of any sort.
Speaking of fiscal discipline, isn't the CFO accountable for it within an organization? We may top dollar for that position, and it appears that we are getting a person that produces reports.
Posted on September 20, 2007 9:53 AM
Well-said Joe. But, is anyone on the BOE really listening? Fiscal discipline? As you know, this school district seems to have a problem with the concept of discipline of any sort.
Speaking of fiscal discipline, isn't the CFO accountable for it within an organization? We may top dollar for that position, and it appears that we are getting a person that produces reports.
Posted on September 20, 2007 9:55 AM
Well-said Joe. But, is anyone on the BOE really listening? Fiscal discipline? As you know, this school district seems to have a problem with the concept of discipline of any sort.
Speaking of fiscal discipline, isn't the CFO accountable for it within an organization? We pay top dollar for that position, and it appears that we are getting a person that produces reports.
Posted on September 20, 2007 9:56 AM
Sorry about the multiple posts. It seems that the system was going through a conversion to its new format when I was trying to post.
Posted on September 20, 2007 1:34 PM