Frequently Asked Questions
Short Answer:
A bond is a borrowing mechanism – like a loan it’s used by local governments to finance long-term construction projects.
More Context:
In N.C., county governments are responsible for financing school facilities. Counties can sell bonds as a way of borrowing money to pay for projects, like new school construction. County Commissioners must first seek voter approval to issue bonds (which is a form of borrowing money). When a bond “passes”, it means voters have authorized commissioners to issue bonds up to that maximum amount. The amount that the county borrows is ultimately decided by County Commissioners in conjunction with the Local Government Commission (LGC). The LGC is a N.C. agency which reports to the N.C. State Treasurer. The LGC also must approve the issuance of the bonds. This ensures local governments don’t take on more debt than they can manage. A county has 7 years to issue the bonds after voters and the LGC have approved. The LGC also has the power to grant permission to counties to extend the issuing time frame from 7 – 10 years.
Short Answer:
The Master Facilities Study & Plan, completed in 2019, identified more than $2B in school facilities needs and documented the condition of all GCS buildings.
More Context:
In 2017, an independent study was funded jointly by Guilford County and Guilford County Schools to look at the conditions of our school facilities. School construction and engineering specialists walked every square foot of GCS space and painstakingly documented conditions. The study – released in January of 2019 –found many of our schools were literally falling apart. In fact, 50% were rated in poor or unsatisfactory condition. Outdated systems for heating/ac, electrical, plumbing, technology and other critical infrastructural systems were causing costly problems every year.
Based on the study, Cooperative Strategies, the consultants who completed the study, presented Recommendations for a Master Plan that outlined safety and technology upgrades needed, schools that needed either full renovation or rebuilding, and new construction needs. These recommendations were presented in November 2019. The Joint Facilities Committee tasked GCS with reviewing the recommendations and developing a list of projects in order of priority. That list is referred to as the Prioritization List OR for short, at times, The Master Plan.
In 2020, community leaders began advocating for a bond to fund the investment needed to bring facilities into the 21st century. Business leaders, nonprofit leaders, community advocates and elected officials came together to build a shared vision of what could be possible for schools with this investment. In 2020, voters passed a $300M bond for school facilities. In 2022, they approved an additional $1.7B.
Short answer:
The average GCS school was 55 years old and many of our buildings were falling apart.
More Context:
Our community neglected to fully fund maintenance for our schools for decades. Guilford County made steady cuts in the property tax rate and voters did not approve increases in the local sales tax, so when Guilford County Schools (GCS) requested needed maintenance funds for buildings, the necessary funds weren’t available. Over decades, it left our schools with severely outdated air conditioning and heating units, leaking roofs, mold and more.
GCS has 126 schools, 300 buildings (average age 55 years old) with more than 12M square feet of space and nearly 3000 acres of land. Historically, the district has received less than .50 cents per square foot for maintenance each year from the County. In 2020, voters came together to pass a $300M bond for school facilities and in 2022, they approved an additional $1.7B. This combined $2B investment was to fund needs identified in the Master Facilities Study and Plan, completed in 2019.
The skills needed in a modern workforce are different and updating our schools to reflect that gives our students a career-ready advantage. State-of-the-art schools attract businesses, retain workers, and develop a skilled work force to keep businesses in Guilford County. We are already seeing the economic impact of our historic $2B investment with companies like Toyota Battery and BOOM choosing Guilford County as a location for new sites, bringing increased revenue and jobs for our community. Investing in our schools is investing in shared prosperity for all.
Together, our community is working together to invest in our shared future so our whole community can thrive.
Short answer:
The Master Facilities Study & Plan identified more than $2B worth of facility needs. This was based on 2019 pricing, before the record inflation we have seen in recent years. A Phase 1 bond in the amount of $300M was passed in 2020 and a Phase 2 bond in the amount of $1.7B was passed in 2022. Our community has committed to invest $2B in revamping our schools.
More Context:
The Master Facilities Study & Plan identified more than $2B in needed investment in school construction and repairs. This was based on 2019 pricing, before the record inflations we have seen in recent years. The County decided to put a Phase 1 school bond in the amount of $300M on the 2020 ballot, which was supported by over 69% of voters. In 2022, a Phase 2 school bond for the amount of $1.7B was put on the ballot. Over 60% of voters approved the bond, which was the largest in N.C. history and 3rd largest in U.S. history. Both bonds were supported by voters across the political spectrum. Together, we are building a robust school system that will give students the tools needed to build a bright future.
Short Answer:
We can allocate dollars as effectively as possible and over time we can work as a community to allocate additional dollars to fully fund the plan.
More Context:
The Joint Facilities Committee, as well as County and GCS elected leaders and staff are working hard to allocate dollars efficiently to schools in the greatest need AND to “value engineer” projects so that we are getting the most out of our building program. Value engineering ensures schools are designed with the most cost-effective materials available and with the most efficient floor plan and footprint for a school’s programming needs. There will also be ongoing conversations about how to utilize future county revenues to continue to invest in school facilities. Revenues have increased. The County is considering more annual “pay as you go” investments in school facilities, as well as ways to leverage future bonds effectively.
Short Answer:
GCS plans to spend $1.5B to build or fully renovate 20 schools and build a new maintenance and transportation hub. $500M will be spent on repairs, security and technology at other schools – $348M on repairs; $60M on security; $80M on technology, and $12M on athletic facilities.
More Context:
The original Master Facilities Plan called for building or renovating more than 45 schools. The plan also outlined repairs and security and technology upgrades at all schools and recommended investment in transportation & maintenance facilities, as well as central offices.
The plan was completed in 2019 before the pandemic and record inflation. Even back in 2019, the estimated cost to address all needs outlined in the plan exceeded $2B. The Joint Capital Facilities Committee is comprised of a select group of Guilford County Commissioners and Board of Education members. They are working together with County and GCS staff to allocate dollars effectively and make as much progress on the plan’s recommendations as is feasible. This will be at least a decade-long endeavor and additional dollars will be required to fully address the needs outlined in the plan. The schools being built and renovated now will also save money in the long run. They are more efficient energy-wise and more cost effective to operate and maintain than the current older buildings. The investments that we are making now will positively shape our community for decades to come.
Short answer:
On average, it takes about 2 years to move through the 5 stages of construction — Pre-design, Design, Bidding, Construction, Completion — but of course there are many variables. Supply chain issues, weather, competition for contractors and availability of swing space all are major factors.
More Context:
The 5 phases of construction are followed in all major projects. They are:
Phase 1 – Pre-design – This is all about community input. Staff, parents, students and the wider community are asked what they would like to see in a school. Takes about 2 months.
Phase 2 – Design – Input is incorporated into the actual design of the site and the building. This phase includes site work to determine the best way to position buildings and facilities. It also includes considering the school’s special programs and facilities needed for those programs. Takes 8-10 months to get a final design. This phase also often ends with “value engineering” where the design may be adapted, or materials changed to reduce projected costs.
Phase 3 – Bid – The project manager looks for business who will do the work – engineers, plumbers, roofers, electricians, and others. Bids are submitted and considered. There is focus on keeping work local and to offer opportunities to minority and women-owned businesses. There are a lot of people needed for each project and there is a limited number of subcontractors available. Government contracting rules and regulations play a big role in this phase to ensure fairness and the integrity of the process.
Phase 4 – Construction – This is when we all get excited! Dirt gets moved, walls start to go up and we can see what the new school will look like. Weather can be a big factor impacting timing, as can supply chain issues. This stage typically takes about 15 months.
Phase 5 – Completion – Crews comb the school to provide the finishing touches. Equipment is moved in, classrooms are set up and plans to move students back in are put into action. This takes roughly 2 months.
Short answer:
GCS and the County are allocating about $500M of the current $2B to address priority repairs and to make investments in security and technology across the district. GCS is spending $348M on repairs; $60M on security; $80M on technology, and $12M on athletic facilities.
More Context:
Like all other projects, the costs originally estimated for repairs back in 2019 were much lower than they are with today’s prices and market conditions. Some dollars have already been officially allocated for immediate repairs and in July 2023, the Joint Facilities Committee discussed allocating $500M of the total bond dollars for repairs, security, and technology. They also discussed a process to expedite those repairs and move forward with them as the district is also building new schools. Some repairs are currently underway.
Short Answer:
The Master Plan or Prioritization List ranked every school in the district based on the overall condition of the schools and the space needed for student enrollment. GCS and the County are moving through the list from worst conditions to best.
More Context:
When tackling projects, GCS has to consider “swing space.” This is space where students go to school while construction is underway. In some cases, kids can stay in their current school and a replacement school can be built on school property. Then, after the new school is built, the old school is torn down – or used as swing space for another project. When there isn’t enough room for a new school until the old is torn down, the district has to make room in other schools, install portables and/or find other facilities. This can affect the order in which projects are done. It is also easier to move forward more quickly with maintenance and repairs that don’t displace students than some new construction or full renovations projects. So, it is possible a school in “better condition” that is ranked lower on the overall list could get some repairs while a school in “worse condition” or higher on the list is waiting for swing space to be available so their school can be torn down and rebuilt or gutted and fully renovated.
Short Answer:
The Joint Facilities Study was a report of the conditions of all GCS facilities and was released in January 2019. The consulting firm that conducted the study then made a series of recommendations for the district to consider for their plan. The district reviewed those recommendations and developed the Master Plan Prioritization List.
More Context:
An undertaking like this isn’t easy. Neither the County nor GCS had the staff capacity to do this. Cooperative Strategies is a consulting firm that does this work across the country and was hired to conduct the study and make recommendations. The County and GCS jointly funded the initial study and the plan recommendations. But no consultant can fully understand local dynamics. Some of their recommendations didn’t work for our community. The Joint Facilities Committee directed the Superintendent at that time to work with staff to develop a plan and a list of priority projects taking into account their concerns and input, as well as the recommendations of the consultants. That work resulted in the Master Plan & Prioritization List. GCS will continue to work with the County to adapt the plan as needed to match new enrollment projections, program demand and current conditions.