Three new schools open in 2009-10
July 7, 2009 - The Wake County Public School System will open three new schools for 2009-10, while more schools are being built and planned. Banks Road Elementary teacher has colorful classroom set up to welcome students to their new school. |
The schools opening this year include three new multi-track, year-round elementary schools Banks Road Elementary, Herbert Akins Road Elementary and Lake Myra Elementary.
Banks Road Elementary is opening as a new school with its own students this year after serving as swing space for Smith Elementary while its campus was renovated. The school is located near the main Wake Technical Community College campus off US 401. The 103,806 square foot school design is a reuse of a two-story elementary school prototype. The new school is expected to serve more than 600 students this year. The site will feature Wake County Parks and Recreation open space and a future Town of Fuquay Varina ball park. The school’s principal is Franklin Creech.
Herbert Akins Road Elementary is a new larger elementary prototype adapted from the Cedar Fork Elementary design. The school is a 103,405 square foot two-story building. The new school is expected to serve 650 students this year. The school’s principal is Mary Warren
Lake Myra Elementary is a first re-use of the Mills Park Elementary prototype. The new school facility is a 103,769 square foot three-story elementary school. The new school is expected to serve approximately x00 students this year. The school’s principal is Jim Argent.
There’s been a lot of work that’s gone into preparing for the school openings. While the school facilities are built, principals are appointed to begin the job of pulling together the staff, academic programs, books and equipment the new schools will need. They work to finalize classroom, teacher and track assignments, as well as serving as instructional leaders. Then they welcome new students and families into the newest school facilities in Wake County.
When students return to traditional calendar schools on August 25, they will see more results of the school construction program. Students from Bugg Elementary, Lacy Elementary, Poe Elementary, Smith Elementary, Wendell Middle and Wake Forest Rolesville at Heritage will move into improved or new facilities.
At Bugg Elementary, improvements include the construction of 10 new general classrooms and two new Special Programs classrooms and new Physical Education support spaces. The kitchen has been renovated and expanded and a new dining/serving area has been built. Existing media center and classrooms were upgraded. Vehicle circulation and parking was expanded and bus circulation was expanded.
At Lacy Elementary new general and special programs classrooms were constructed as well as a new art and music classrooms. New dining and multi-purpose room, media center, administration and student support services were constructed. Old buildings B, D, E, and A were demolished. A new canopy was provided for student drop off. An accessible route was provided to new play fields.
At Poe Elementary, older classrooms, corridors, and toilets were renovated and any remaining asbestos was removed. The kitchen and support services and Media Center were renovated. Windows were replaced as needed and canopies provided for student drop off.
Smith Elementary students return from a year in swing space at the Banks Road campus to a new facility at their old campus. New general and special programs classrooms were constructed as well as new art and music classrooms, administration, student support services, child nutrition services and plant operations areas. Old Buildings B and C and a portion of Building A were demolished. Older classrooms, corridors and toilets were upgraded. Canopies were provided for student drop-off.
At Wendell Middle, students moved from the early start modular campus into their new facility built at the same site. A new 981 student capacity middle school was constructed using the Salem Middle prototype revised to a three story building.
Wake Forest Rolesville High students in grades 10-12 will move into swing space at the new Heritage High campus this year, while their campus undergoes major renovation. Ninth graders will continue using the Dubois modular campus.
Work is on schedule for these projects to open on time for the start of traditional calendar school on August 25. You can find more information on the school construction program at
New 2009 Year-round Schools
Banks Road Elementary
10225 Chambers Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
Principal: Franklin Creech
Bell Schedule: 9:05 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
103,806 square feet school building located on a 17.57 acre site.
Herbert Akins Road Elementary
2255 Herbert Akins Road
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Principal: Mary Warren
Bell Schedule: 9:05 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
103,405 square feet school building located on a 44.78 acre site.
Lake Myra Elementary
1300 Elk Falls Drive
Wendell, NC 27591
Principal: Jim Argent
Bell Schedule: 9:05 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
103,769 square feet school building located on a 16.8 acre site.
*Early start school in temporary facility
+East Wake High School was divided into four small learning communities “schools within a school”
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