Consultant Thomas Sayre’s statistical projections before Decatur’s school board Wednesday indicate at least a new K-3 school and 4/5 academy will need building by 2020.

Sayre projects that by 2020 City Schools’ enrollment could swell to 8,145 — including students from proposed annexation properties — with the system currently having capacity for 3,859.

Annexation to Decatur’s north could potentially provide land for new schools.

“We don’t have land [within current city limits] to accommodate growth unless the city acquires [property surrounding existing schools] by eminent domain,” Superintendent Phyllis Edwards pointed out.