DeKalb Schools could ask public for $265M more for E-SPLOST projects

DeKalb County School District Superintendent Steve Green gives remarks during a press conference at Cross Keys High School to celebrate the E-SPLOST passage on May 25, 2016. (KENT D. JOHNSON/kdjohnson@ajc.com)

DeKalb County School District Superintendent Steve Green gives remarks during a press conference at Cross Keys High School to celebrate the E-SPLOST passage on May 25, 2016. (KENT D. JOHNSON/kdjohnson@ajc.com)

The DeKalb County School District is holding public meetings beginning Aug. 26 on how it will address construction material cost increases for its Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax V projects.

One plan includes asking for up to $265 million to cover the shortfall and additional projects.

“A key part of the proposed options is a potential referendum to approve a general obligation (“GO”) bond issue to complete the current E-SPLOST program and to complete additional projects to address urgent facility needs,” the district said in a release this morning.

Five meetings will be held through Sept. 10 at high schools across the county, including:

• Clarkston High School, Aug. 26, 2019, 7:00 pm

• Chamblee High School, Aug. 27, 2019, 7:00 pm

• Miller Grove High School, Aug. 28, 2019, 7:00 pm

• Columbia High School, Sept. 4, 2019, 7:00 pm

• Lakeside High School, Sept. 10, 2019, 7:00 pm

The proposed options for dealing with the cost overruns, which include scaling back and eliminating some projects altogether, are detailed on the district's website.

A public input survey , which opened July 22, also is available online, and will be available through Sept. 15.