Education
Education

Atlanta school board OKs $46 million contract to reopen MLK’s old school

The David T. Howard School building, named after the former slave and businessman who donated the land, is shown in these photographs taken on Jan. 10, 2018. Vanessa McCray/AJC
The David T. Howard School building, named after the former slave and businessman who donated the land, is shown in these photographs taken on Jan. 10, 2018. Vanessa McCray/AJC
By
April 10, 2018

The Atlanta school board approved a $46 million contract to renovate Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood school, closed for more than 40 years.

The Atlanta Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved the not-to-exceed contract with Parrish Construction Group to transform the shuttered David T. Howard Building in the Old Fourth Ward into the new Howard Middle School. Officials said the project will relieve overcrowding at Inman Middle School and reopen the school the civil rights leader attended from 1936 to 1940.

"I can't think of a better year to have this approved -- on the 50th anniversary marking his life and his legacy," said Superintendent Meria Carstarphen during Monday's meeting.  She unveiled renderings of the project last week on the anniversary of King's assassination.

The project, with a total estimated cost of $52 million, will be paid for with the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. The district aims to have it ready to open in the fall of 2020.

About the Author

Follow Vanessa McCray on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

HBCUs nationally will get $438 million, according to the UNCF, previously known as the United Negro College Fund. Georgia has 10 historically Black colleges and universities. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta HBCUs win millions from White House — but it could be at others’ expense

The additional allocation from the Trump administration will bring federal HBCU funding to a total of more than $1.34 billion in fiscal year 2025.

Georgia teachers on leave for Charlie Kirk social media posts

Cobb school employees join a growing list of people fired or suspended from jobs across the nation for allegedly inflammatory social media posts.

Atlanta HBCUs lift shelter-in-place order after threat

Clark Atlanta, Morris Brown, Morehouse and Spelman issued now-lifted shelter-in-place orders Thursday after a threat to CAU.

The Latest

HBCUs nationally will get $438 million, according to the UNCF, previously known as the United Negro College Fund. Georgia has 10 historically Black colleges and universities. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta HBCUs win millions from White House — but it could be at others’ expense

Georgia teachers on leave for Charlie Kirk social media posts

Atlanta HBCUs lift shelter-in-place order after threat

Featured

The city of Atlanta opened Azalea Fresh Market downtown to help residents find affordable groceries. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Metro Atlanta consumers grapple with higher prices on food, other goods

Inflation recently reached its highest level this year, with prices increasing for food, housing and other necessities.

Raffensperger, who rebuffed Trump in 2020, runs for Georgia governor

He was the Republican who told Donald Trump no. Now the secretary of state is telling Georgia voters he wants to be their next governor.

South Georgia football coach resigns after 0-5 start

Wayne County’s John Mohring resigned Tuesday afternoon, becoming the third GHSA football coach to step down since the season began.