WAKE COUNTY, N.C.— Wake County residents will vote in November on whether to borrow a total of over $1 billion for a number of community improvements that would include ample school construction and expansion projects.

The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., reports that of the $1 billion, about $548 million would go towards a school construction bond that would fund two years of a proposed seven-year building program for the Wake County Public School System.

According to the Observer, about $140 million of the school construction bond revenue would fund the construction of seven new schools that include: South Lakes Elementary School in Fuquay-Varina, a middle school in Fuquay-Varina, an elementary school in Apex, two elementary schools in southwest Wake County, a new high school in southwest Wake County and an unidentified elementary school.

The school bond also includes another $283 million for the renovation of 11 other Wake County schools during fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

The Observer reports that complete and partial renovations are planned at the following schools: Wiley Elementary, Stough Elementary, East Wake Middle, Conn Elementary, Fuquay-Varina High, Fuller Elementary, York Elementary, Swift Creek Elementary, West Millbrook Middle, Baucom Elementary and an unidentified middle school.

Such renovations would include the replacement of old equipment like HVACs in aging schools, technology upgrades, and land acquisition, according to WRAL.com.

The Observer also reports that about $89 million of the remainder of the school bond funding would go towards technology, infrastructure, and property management, with the remaining $36 million set aside for contingency and management.

Also included in the $1 billion bond, is $349 million set aside for construction projects at Wake Technical Community College. The Wake Tech bond, as it’s called, would fund about four years worth of construction projects on the college’s various campuses as part of the school’s 2017-23 Capital Improvement Program.

According to Wake Tech’s website, the bond funds will enable Wake Tech to expand to meet the growing demand for higher education and workforce training in Wake County.

The remaining $120 million of the $1 billion bond would go towards a parks bond, according to WRAL.com, that for the next six years would provide funding for the purchase of land for county parks and open spaces, and for the extension of greenways.

A public hearing on the bond proposals is scheduled for Aug. 6.

Reports from The News & Observer, and WRAL.com contributed to this story.

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The design and construction team of Chicago-based Wight & Company and Pepper Construction, also based in Chicago, joined students, parents, teachers, administrators and local officials to celebrate the groundbreaking.

“This school will be a tangible symbol of the community’s care and commitment to its children’s education,” said Leanne Meyer-Smith, vice president of architecture at Wight & Company, in a statement. “The aesthetic for the new Sunset Ridge School is very contextual to the neighborhood. We have incorporated elements and building materials that echo the warm, natural tones you see throughout the homes in Northfield.”

The centerpiece the new school’s design is a “village square” complete with performance and dining space and surrounded by “academic neighborhoods” that will be organized by grade level, physical education and music areas, according to Wight & Company. The design is intended to help foster a sense of unity. The building will also seek LEED certification, and will contain a library and learning center in the academic wing complete with a makerspace and science and language laboratories. Breakout rooms throughout will help facilitate individualized learning, and natural lighting will be used prominently throughout the interior spaces.

“We are thrilled to be embarking on a project of this stature that allows us to build a state-of-the art facility from the ground up,” said Superintendent Dr. Edward Stange in a statement. “The educational benefits to our students are outstanding and range from a much improved and larger gym facility, a dedicated theatre space and a variety of 21st century focused educational spaces. This new building will be an exceptional community asset for years to come.

“This is what we call ‘a future ready learning environment,’” Dr. Stange continued. “The process of learning in the school environment has evolved. It’s much more collaborative, interactive and technology-based, and this trend will continue, so we have to design learning spaces that can adapt to changing curriculum.”

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