Student relocation faces debate tonight

DeKalb County school officials tonight will have a public hearing about relocating students who currently attend the Heritage Center to another campus — a move that could free up the center’s building for a new military public high school.

Neighborhood residents plan to pack the hearing as part of a campaign to locate the DeKalb Marine Corps Institute elsewhere, saying they support the concept but are concerned about increased traffic and that the site is too small.

The Heritage Center, a former elementary school in northeast Atlanta that dates to 1968, currently houses students with special needs who next year will merge with another program.

The Marines school is expected to open in August and eventually enroll 650 students. It would be a result of the county partnering with the U.S. Marines, although a final agreement between the two on the school has not yet been announced.

Tonight’s hearing is scheduled at 6:30 at the center, 2225 Heritage Drive in Atlanta.

— Kristina Torres