Tag Archives: dekalb schools

Building Additions – Project Plan and Schedule

The SPLOST V building additions at Lakeside HS (LHS), Chamblee Charter HS (CCHS) and Dunwoody HS (DHS) will be “classroom additions and necessary core space additions and/or parking spaces”. But what does that really mean?

BUILDING ADDITIONS – PROJECT LIST
I met with Joshua Williams, the Chief Operating Officer, and the other board members on Monday. The building additions project includes the following:
* Classroom additions
* Kitchen extension
* Cafeteria extension
* New/extended media center addition
* New parking
RENOVATIONS
Each building addition project has a specific budget. Whatever money is left over from the building additions, will go into the district wide E-SPLOST Contingency Fund. There will absolutely not be any renovations done to other areas of the school with building additions budget unless they are impacted by the original projects.
BUILDING ADDITIONS & FIELD RENOVATIONS – SCHEDULE
In March 2017, the board and administration passed a schedule for all E-SPLOST V projects. That schedule has not changed. At DHS, engineers are looking into the possibility of separating out the field renovations project and doing that early.

Project Description Budget Anticipated Overall Start Date Anticipated Construction Start Date Anticipated Construction Finish Date Anticipated Overall Finish Date
Chamblee HS 30-classroom addition $21,540,000 Mar. 2017 Nov. 2018 Jul. 2020 Oct. 2020
New Cross Keys HS New 119-classroom high school $84,800,000 Aug. 2017 Sep. 2019 Sep. 2021 Jun. 2022
Lakeside HS 38-classroom addition and synthetic turf installation $26,990,000 Nov. 2018 Jul. 2020 Mar. 2022 Jun. 2022
Dunwoody HS 26-classroom addition and synthetic turf installation $17,690,000 Feb. 2019 Oct. 2020 Jun. 2022 Sep. 2022
Peachtree MS 26-classroom addition $14,100,000 Oct. 2019 Jun. 2021 Feb. 2023 May. 2023

NEW CROSS KEYS / BROOKHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL
$85 million was budgeted for a New Cross Keys HS at the former Briarcliff HS site (or cost-neutral alternative site). A majority of the new Cross Keys High School population will live West of I-85 plus students from Sagamore and/or perhaps Oak Grove. The current Briarcliff HS site is East of I-85 on Druid Hills Rd and sits on 17.6 acres.
FIELD RENOVATIONS
E-SPLOST V also includes artificial turf installation at 19 high schools. At LHS and DHS, the turf installation will happen at the same time as the building additions.

Student Protests Wed – The Plan – County by County

School districts across the country are planning for a student walk out this Wednesday March 14.
Gwinnett Schools appropriately noted, “If a school or school district approves or condones a walkout by students in the present situation, it must take the same position with any and all student groups that want to take similar action in the future, regardless of the cause being promoted.”
The Gwinnett position begs the question for those districts that are suspending their policies and allowing the walk-out to be sanctioned: What if future student led walk-outs are held that support or oppose various controversial topics and ideas; such as abortion, illegal immigration, gun rights, gun confiscation, etc.?
If the school district has set a precedent, allowing walk-outs in violation of board policy and the student code of conduct, where will this end? On what basis is board policy even allowed to be violated? Does this violation expose the school district to legal risk?
This is the plan for various school districts in the Metro Atlanta area:
DeKalb SchoolsSuperintendent Green announced DeKalb Schools is breaking from board policy and the student code of conduct to provide students a place to protest on campus during school hours. Principals are working with student groups who wish to participate in the protest. The school district is supportive of employee participation in the protest.
Cobb SchoolsCobb Schools is putting academics first. Cobb County School District will work with students to identify the best methods to accomplish this demonstration without interruption of normal school operations.
Clayton Schools – Clayton Schools will support the students and staff in peaceful demonstrations.
Gwinnett Schools – Gwinnett Schools is concerned about academic impact saying, “We believe the student walkout, however well-intended, could negatively impact our ability to meet our primary responsibility. Classroom learning will be affected if students miss instructional time, and the safety of students could be compromised if they leave class or campus without permission.”
Fulton Schools – Fulton schools originally opposed sacrificing class time for the protest, but has since walked that back saying it would support a structured activity during the walkout.
Atlanta Public Schools – APS Superintendent said, “It is also important for students to remember that disruptive “walkouts” are against district policy, and any student led demonstrations that have not received prior approval will result in disciplinary consequences. Said simply, while we support peaceful organized protesting that is school sanctioned (with prior approval), we do not support disruption of school or obstruction of the school district’s mission, process or function as explained in board policy.”


Walk Up, Not Out
Good suggestion. Lisa has noted a more proactive and repeatable recommendation proliferating on social media. Walk up to the kid that always sits alone at lunch, and invite him or her to join you. Include those students that struggle to assimilate, and show kindness to them. Doesn’t allow for cool selfies, but it would certainly be a more proactive way to effect change on the ground.


WSB TV 2 is reporting that DeKalb Schools Superintendent Green says “there are dozens of threats the district has investigated since the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.” … 59 to be exact at the time.