The proposed combination of Coan Middle School and King Middle School in eastern Atlanta may be delayed for a year, said Superintendent Erroll Davis on Monday.
Davis had previously suggested merging the schools by next school year, but he said he needs to evaluate how soon construction could begin to remodel King Middle School, where the combined school would eventually be located. He plans to make a recommendation to the school board next week.
If construction can’t start quickly, middle school students could stay in their home schools for one more year, consolidate on the Coan campus in the 2015-2016 school year, and then move to a renovated King campus in the 2016-2017 school year.
Davis said parents want improved programs at their middle schools.
“What we did hear loudly and clearly is that everyone wants a real investment, not just lip service,” Davis said.
Both schools are under-enrolled.
Coan has 260 students for a facility designed to hold 1,025 students, and King has about 460 students in a building designed to hold 1,000 students, according to Atlanta Public Schools.
A combined school would be able to expand offerings to include more sports, clubs, band, chorus and orchestra, Davis said.
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