Gwinnett discusses plans for new alternative school

Gwinnett County school officials discussed a plan Thursday to open an alternative school for students in the southern end of the district, possibly as soon as this fall.

The Gwinnett Intervention Center (G.I.V.E.) South would serve about 170 students, officials told school board members. It would serve students with chronic disciplinary problems or those having academic trouble in south Gwinnett. Students would be required to wear uniforms and the school would have metal detectors.

The school would be located at 4221 Centerville Highway in Snellville.

Gwinnett Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks appointed a committee in April 2012 to conduct a study into creating alternative education programs in the Shiloh High School area. Gwinnett officials initially discussed opening the school during the 2017-18 school year, but said Thursday it could open a year earlier.

Most board members raised no major objections to the plan. Board member Louise Radloff was concerned that the campus is not near a public bus route for students without access to transportation.

Gwinnett has two other G.I.V.E. campuses, located in Lawrenceville and Norcross. Those schools have about 415 students.