Forsyth County commissioners have approved $430 million in bond payouts and priority projects for the county’s public schools, Forsyth Tech and Park and Recreation.
Voters approved $350 million for the school system in a November bond referendum, along with $65 million for Forsyth Technical Community College, and $15 million for Parks and Recreation, The Winston-Salem Journal has reported.
The commissioners discussed the low percentage of minority- and women-owned businesses contracting with the county on bond projects. Commissioner Walter Marshall said that historically minority participation has been low.
“I’ve been disappointed in the last 20 years about minority business participation, especially African American participation,” Marshall said. “It’s ridiculous the lack of participation we’ve gotten for these bonds over the last 20 years.”
Forsyth County has a 10 percent MWBE participation goal, the state’s minimum.
The city of Winston-Salem’s goal starts at the 10 percent state minimum but can be higher depending on the project and the trade associated with that project, said city/county construction specialist Darren Redfield.
Commissioner Don Martin also remarked about the use of minority- and women-owned businesses for contractors and subcontractors.
“Your statement implies that there’s some sort of prohibition that keeps African American businesses from bidding on these projects, and that is certainly not the case,” Martin said.
Commissioner Everette Witherspoon said that the county has the basic standards that the state requires, whereas the city of Winston-Salem goes beyond that. “We might be able to meet the state’s MWBE requirement just by putting an ad in the paper,” he said in the published report. “With the city, you might have to call different contractors and do additional things to ensure minority business participation.”
For information about providing facilities and construction services for Forsyth County schools, see this link.
The school district says the project list includes $29.4 million in capital and operational improvements, which impact many schools. The project list also includes several new schools, renovations and additions to existing schools, and projects to increase safety and transportation access to some schools.
The following data is listed from the school district’s site.
The district would spend $3 million to add six prekindergarten classrooms at a location to be determined and expand service to 108 children.
The district would also spend $1.5 million to buy land for a future elementary school in eastern Forsyth County, $27 million to build a new middle school on Robinhood Road, and $27 million to build a new middle school near Smith Farm Elementary.
Ashley Academy would receive $900,000 to pay for design plans for a future Ashley.
Bolton Elementary would receive $150,000 to renovate its restrooms.
Brunson Elementary would receive $25.2 million to build a replacement school with additional capacity, including prekindergarten classrooms.
Carver High would receive $950,000 to replace its HVAC control system and install an ERV ventilation unit in the gym.
Cash Elementary would receive $800,000 to replace its roofs.
Clemmons Elementary would receive $150,000 to replace its electric boiler and pumps.
Clemmons Middle would receive $500,000 to replace its ERV ventilation unit.
The Downtown School would receive $240,000 to replace the roof on its 1992 classroom building.
Easton Elementary would receive $9 million to add 12 classrooms, 2 pre-K classrooms and a new cafeteria, as well as $110,000 to replace the roof on the kindergarten building.
East Forsyth High would receive $20.1 million for extensive renovations, plus another $725,000 to update heat and air-conditioning units in the 1000 building and gym.
Forest Park Elementary would receive $2.2 million to replace its roof, boiler, heat pumps, HVAC controls, generator and install ERV ventilation units.
Glenn High would receive $3 million to repair its stadium.
Griffith Elementary would receive $6.9 million to add 12 classrooms, 2 pre-K classrooms and expand its cafeteria, as well as $870,000 to replace the roofs on two buildings.
Hall-Woodward Elementary would receive $210,000 to renovate restrooms.
Jefferson Elementary would receive $160,000 to replace its generator.
Jefferson Middle would receive $1.6 million to replace its HVAC control system, replace boilers, pumps, and a hot water heater and tank, and upgrade the lighting and renovate the restrooms in the 1968 building.
John F. Kennedy High would receive $18.3 million for extensive renovations to its career-tech classrooms.
Kernersville Elementary would receive $2.1 million to update electrical and mechanical systems, replace its generator, renovate its kitchen, replace boilers and upgrade ceilings and lighting.
Kimberley Park Elementary would receive $250,000 to upgrade the lighting in the main building and auditorium.
Konnoak Elementary would receive $19 million to build a partial replacement school.
Lewisville Elementary would receive $4.1 million to replace the roof on the front building, gym and auditorium and replace windows, doors, floors, ceilings, lights, HVAC systems and controls.
Lowrance Middle and Paisley IB Magnet would receive $47 million to build two replacement schools under one roof that would share space on Paisley’s campus.
Meadowlark Elementary would receive money to improve traffic flow in and out of campus
Meadowlark Middle would receive $40,000 to upgrade the lighting in the gym plus additional money to improve traffic flow in and out of campus.
Mineral Springs Elementary would receive $200,000 to replace its gym air conditioning unit.
Mount Tabor High would receive $3 million to repair its stadium and $700,000 to renovate its kitchen.
North Forsyth High would receive $17 million to renovate its 1963 building (less the gym) and $545,000 to upgrade exterior lighting and install an ERV ventilation unit in the gym.
North Hills Elementary would receive $90,000 to replace its emergency communications system.
Old Richmond Elementary would receive $125,000 to replace the electrical service in its kitchen and upgrade lighting.
Parkland High would receive $1.9 million to renovate restrooms and replace electrical service in the 1965 building, install an ERV ventilation unit in the gym, replace a chiller and cooling tower, and renovate the kitchen, plus additional money for traffic improvements.
Petree Elementary would receive $160,000 to replace its generator.
Philo-Hill Magnet would receive $17.1 million for extensive renovations.
Piney Grove Elementary would receive $1.8 million to replace a heat pump, generator, water heaters, emergency communications system and roof.
Reynolds High would receive $160,000 to replace its generator, plus additional money to improve pedestrian safety around its campus.
Sedge Garden Elementary would receive $800,000 to replace the roof on its 1978 building.
Southeast Middle would receive $40,000 to upgrade the lighting in gym, plus additional money to improve traffic flow in and out of the school.
South Fork Elementary would receive $200,000 to upgrade the lighting in the main building.
Union Cross Elementary would receive $1.1 million to replace its water heater and roof.
Vienna Elementary would receive $200,000 to replace the gym roof.
Walkertown Elementary would receive $3.2 million to replace the generator, roofs, boiler, heat pumps, ERV ventilation unit and HVAC control system and improve student pick-up and drop-off.
Ward Elementary would receive $6.9 million to add 12 classrooms, 2 pre-K classrooms and expand its cafeteria.
West Forsyth High would receive $1.5 million to install an ERV ventilation unit in the gym, replace the air conditioning and heat in the 900 building and renovate the kitchen.
Wiley Magnet Middle would receive $9.3 million to replace its gym and add six STEAM classrooms and $510,000 to replace its HVAC control system and generator, plus additional money to improve pedestrian safety around its campus.
Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy would receive $1.1 million to renovate its kitchen and upgrade a storage tank.
