Decatur School Board Meets Tuesday Night

Change of plans: It looks like the $59.5 million Decatur schools bond referendum won't be held in 2013 after all.

The delay is caused by the school board and city commission's inability to schedule a joint meeting to discuss the schools master plan for construction, Superintendent Phyllis Edwards wrote on the agenda for the school board's upcoming meeting.

The commission would have to vote by Aug. 5 to place the referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot. The dates are mandated by law to allow time for legal advertisements.

Edwards wrote that she and City Manager Peggy Merriss had agreed on an Aug. 5 meeting but the date "was not good for some members," so a new date will have to be found.

"The plan to have the two entities meet in a work session was hindered by calendar issues.  The Commission, according to our City Charter, must approve the request for a referendum.  The concern raised is one of having the city understand the plan and the need in more details before asking them to vote.  The difficult timeline has always been an issue."

The school board voted in early June to send the referendum to the commission for consideration, but school officials always emphasized they were working with a tight timetable.

The $59.5 million would be used to extensively renovate Decatur High and Renfroe Middle School to accommodate growing attendance. The student body at both schools is expected to double by 2018.

Edwards said delaying the vote will give the school system more time to discuss the specifics with the city commission and the community, as well as to complete ongoing construction projects.

"Naturally on the con side the loss of a year will mean that we will have to account for classroom spaces in other methods; such as portables for an additional year," she wrote.

The school board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Westchester Center at 758 Scott Blvd.

The school board is also meeting Aug. 13 and will hold an annual retreat Aug. 23-24 at the Stone Mountain Evergreen Conference Center.