M-DCPS TO ACQUIRE NEW LAND FOR SCHOOLS;
NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS APPROVED

MIAMI – Construction plans at Miami-Dade County Public Schools continue at a record pace, and the approval Wednesday by the School Board of three land acquisitions and three construction projects, as well as a contract for land preparation of one site, confirms the District’s commitment to eradicating overcrowding and providing students with modern, state-of-the-art facilities.

The fast-growing City of Doral will greatly benefit from two land acquisitions, both slated for schools that will relieve Eugenia B. Thomas and John I. Smith elementary schools and Doral Middle School. The first parcel of land, located at N.W. 58 St. and 104 Ave., is approximately 17 acres and will house State School “HH1,” a K-8 Center. Construction is scheduled to begin fiscal year 2006-2007. Eugenia B. Thomas and John I. Smith elementary schools will further be relieved by State School “P1,” an elementary school that will be located on 10 acres at N.W. 81 St. and 112 Ave.

The final piece of land that has been acquired is located at N.W. 17 St. and 137 Ave., and has been designated for State School “GGG1,” a new senior high school that will relieve Miami Coral Park, G. Holmes Braddock and Doral/Ronald Reagan senior high schools.

On the construction front, Jane S. Roberts K-8 Center, Ethel Koger Beckham and Dr. Bowman Foster Ashe elementary schools will be relieved by Early Childhood Center Prototype “ECC-3,” which will be located at S.W. 47 St. and 167 Ave. This $7.1 million project will provide a new 32,305-square-foot facility and will accommodate 306 student stations. Jasco Construction Company, Inc. will complete the construction. The project will be substantially completed approximately one year from the Notice to Proceed.

The other two construction projects include a partial replacement of Holmes Elementary School and phase one of the new addition, remodeling and renovation at Miami Central Senior High School. The nearly $16 million Holmes Elementary project consists of a replacement elementary school to accommodate 573 students in grades 1-5. Work includes approximately 11,370 sq. ft. of renovated facilities and 54,342 sq. ft. of new construction of new classroom buildings, a media/art pavilion, and a complete site redevelopment of new play fields, hard courts, PE shelter and drop-off area.

At a cost of about $24 million, the Miami Central Senior High School project, of which this is phase one, includes construction of a new track; football and baseball fields; hard courts; field lighting; staff and visitor parking; a new addition to house a cafeteria, classrooms and labs; and a one-story chiller plant for the entire facility. Skanska USA Building, Inc. has received the contracts for both projects, which will be substantially completed approximately one year from the Notice to Proceed.

The land for State School “U-1,” located at N.W. 194th St. and 79th Ave., must undergo pre-construction preparation, including wetlands mitigation, de-mucking and filling, before construction commences. Suffolk Construction Company, Inc., has received the $4.5 million contract to complete the work.

State School “U-1” will provide 1,239 student stations in 123,000 sq. ft. and will help relieve Joella C. Good, Charles D. Wyche and Palm Springs North elementary schools. Construction for this facility was awarded in April as part of a package for three elementary school prototypes.

The School Board also agreed to a name for State School “NN1.”  The school will be called Country Club Middle School.  It is located in Regional Center 1 at 18250 N.W. 75th Place and will provide relief for Lawton Chiles Middle School and Lake Stevens Middle School.

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06-LJG/240/TEL

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