During a Decatur school board work session last week Chief Operating Officer Noel Maloof set a timeline for building a new school on Talley Street, with the goal of opening in May 2019.
Last December a facilities task force recommended reconfiguring the grade structure of Decatur’s school system by creating two elementary levels, K-2 and 3-5. During the work session there were six separate options included within a packet, but the two primary ones remain:
— Creating two elementary levels with K-2 buildings at Clairemont, Glennwood, Winnona Park, and Westchester; and College Heights, which would be renovated to hold 293 students. The 3-5 buildings would be at Oakhurst, Fifth Avenue and a new Talley structure.
— Keeping the current K-3 and 4-5 structure but adding a sixth elementary, College Heights, and a second 4-5 academy on Talley Street.
According to the timeline, there will be a community meeting regarding configuration options on March 13. Also in March, CSD will post a survey listing all options. The board is scheduled to select a final option April 11.
Construction of the Talley school is slated to begin in June 2018. By August 2019, when that school’s scheduled to open, CSD’s projected K-12 enrollment is for slightly under 6,200.
About the Author
