GCS "Building Futures"

Meet Leo Bobadilla – Chief Operations Officer

Leo Bobadilla is the district’s new Chief Operations Officer, which in layman’s terms means he oversees the facilities and maintenance department. That’s no easy task for a department that is on call with 119 schools and three main administrative offices. After 15 years in Orlando, Florida, Bobadilla made the move to GCS with his wife and son.

Bobadilla has a broad range of experience including real estate due diligence, strategic planning, design development, contract administration, construction management, project closeout and facility management interface. He has a master’s degree in business administration, is a licensed general contractor, licensed attorney in Florida and a certified project management professional by the Project Management Institute. In fact, during the last decade, Bobadilla successfully implemented about $2 billion of corporate and government construction programs. He provided management, oversight and guidance to some very complex projects and building plans, including the construction of the second largest convention center in the nation and oversight to one of the largest school construction programs for the 11th largest school district in the country.

 

 

With so much success in Florida, what brought Bobadilla to GCS? He saw an opportunity to utilize his strengths to help a school system challenged by a need for new schools and upgrades to existing schools. In addition, he felt the GCS core values of diversity, innovation, integrity, empathy and equality were important values in both his personal and professional life. “I look forward to the opportunity to work with others who also have a desire to see children in schools that can prepare them for the 21st century,” Bobadilla explained.

 

The facilities department has a dedicated staff operating on all cylinders to keep up with the day-to-day needs of the district, and when Bobadilla joined them, he hit the ground running. In addition to overseeing the projects currently in construction from the 2003 bond referendum, he is counteracting the six-month delay in the 2008 construction bond referendum by doing as much planning as possible now.

 

When it comes to the importance of voter-approval on the 2008 construction bond referendum, Bobadilla cites the number of families, just like his own, joining the community, which causes a need for more classrooms. In addition, there are schools with 30- and 40-year-old heating systems. “They are being held together by our maintenance staff with small miracles whenever these systems fail,” he said. But as these systems age, these failures become more common, and there is only so much the maintenance teams can do.

Despite the hurdles associated with overseeing 119 schools, Bobadilla is excited about working with others who want to see children succeed and thrive in their classrooms. “I look forward to working with my staff, a talented group of people, who truly have the best interest of the children at heart,” he said. “I also look forward to working with the leaders of our community in both the private and public sectors. We can do more together than we otherwise could do alone.”

Knowing that the condition of our schools impacts the education of children, Bobadilla has a vision for GCS: “I envision a GCS where we provide our children with the best learning environment possible. Our schools should be something that we as a community take pride in.”

 

 

 

 

Elementary School Updates

 

While the drought is cause for alarm across the state, it is a blessing in disguise for construction projects in the area. Without rain delays, construction at Northern Elementary has progressed smoothly, with a mid-year turnover scheduled for December. The masonry walls are up, and plumbing, electrical and mechanical overhead are almost finished. The classroom wings have ceiling grids, and workers are installing light fixtures throughout the 740-student school. Only a couple miles from Northern Middle and Northern High, completion of this school will wrap up construction of three brand-new schools built to accommodate the area’s growing population.

Scheduled to open in January 2008 is the addition at Parkview A+ Elementary Magnet School. Relocating an existing stream on the job site made the project intensive. The school’s new entrance, shifted to Gordon Street, is almost complete. The building shell is almost completely dried in, and the roofing is beginning. The contractor is installing exterior brick and working on the metal interior framing. Ductwork and mechanical piping have been fabricated, with installation in progress.

At Pleasant Garden Elementary, construction of a 20,000 square foot addition is progressing well. With an opening planned for summer of 2008, the new building will contain six classrooms, two resource rooms, a teacher work room, kitchen, dining room, restrooms, storage and equipment rooms. Site grading is underway, and the building pad is ready for footers.

 

High School Updates

 

 

The district’s newest high school, Northern High, is rapidly moving towards completion and opening in January 2008. When it opens, the school will have a classroom capacity of 1,210 students and a core capacity of 1,600 students. Positioned adjoining the Northern Middle campus, the high school almost looks complete at first glance. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing work is in progress, and a large portion of the second-floor ceiling grid is installed. Workers are putting the final touches on light fixtures, air condition grills and diffusers on the second floor while the ceramic tile in the bathrooms is underway. The walls are primed, and many have their first coat of final paint.

 

In compliance with federal laws, Guilford County Schools administers all educational programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, color, age, military service, disability or gender, except where exemption is appropriate and allowed by law. Refer to the Board of Education's Discrimination Free Environment Policy AC for a complete statement. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to the Guilford County Schools Compliance Officer, 120 Franklin Boulevard, Greensboro, NC 27401; 336.370.2323.