Asst. Superintendent for Facilities Joe Desormeaux provided a budget update to the Board of Education on current construction projects.
Project cost estimates are higher than initially assumed in putting together budget scenarios. Desormeaux noted that structural steel is significantly higher in cost, site work to prepare for building costs more, and there are greater requirements for public infrastructure for some schools. Public infrastructure includes adding turn lanes and intersections at and/or near new schools. Such additions are required by the NC Dept. of Transportation or local municipalities.
Estimates show a 1 percent increase on building construction costs, but a much higher 16 percent increase on site construction costs and an 18 percent increase in public infrastructure costs. A project contingency line item in the budget sufficiently provides coverage for these costs at present.
For your reference, WCPSS has developed a real-time dashboard that provides information on current building projects. An interactive map of projects provides links to specific project sites. Each project site supplies a status narrative as well as budget numbers, acreage, square footage, student capacity, and anticipated occupancy date.
