Board of Education moves forward with plans for new Ashley Elementary

Last week the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) Board of Education approved a resolution to move forward with the next phase of construction for a new Ashley Elementary. Talks about replacing the elementary school located in the heart of East Winston have been ongoing since 2016. The resolution approved during the school board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 24, will allow district leaders to move forward with Construction Documents (CDs).  Funds for the design of the new school were covered in the 2016 Education Bond approved by voters, and the schematic designs were approved by the board in March.  Now that full design documents are complete, moving forward with construction documents will cost an additional $700,000. Architect fees and construction documents are based off a percentage of the estimated total construction cost. Completed CDs will allow district leaders to request bids for the project.  “What typically happens in the design process, you have a schematic design, then a design document, then a construction document,” explained Darrell Walker, WS/FCS executive director of construction and planning. Construction documents are expected to be completed by March 2025 and the bidding process will begin shortly after.  Including construction, furniture, media, technology, security, and other needs, the project...