Schools

Big Plans: Rebuild Renfroe Middle, Renovate Decatur High

The Decatur School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and will vote on a plan to rebuild Renfroe Middle and renovate and enlarge Decatur High. If approved, a Nov. 5 bond referendum would be held.

The Decatur School Board is scheduled to vote Tuesday night on a plan to build a brand-new Renfroe Middle School and massively renovate Decatur High.

The board will consider three options, with the one favored by the administration costing about $58 million in general obligation bonds.

If the board approves any of the options, a bond referendum would be held Nov. 5, 2013, according to a Power Point presentation posted on the school website.

Find out what's happening in Decatur-Avondale Estateswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The construction and renovation would allow the school system to better handle the student enrollment boom that started in the lower grades.

In 2018, Decatur High's enrollment is expected to hit 1,891 (it's now about 925) and Renfroe 1,666 (783), according to plans on the school system website.

Find out what's happening in Decatur-Avondale Estateswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If the board votes yes, it will still have to hold community input meetings and meet with the city commission to request approval of the bonds.

Option 3, favored by the administration, would make these changes:

Renfroe Middle School

  • Demolish the existing facility after construction of a new one.
  • Expand existing gym for physical education classes.
  • Rework existing parking and entrances on West College Avenue.
  • Reduce existing recreational fields by half. (That space would be returned after demolition of the current building.)
  • Add 54 instructional units, up from 48 now.

Decatur High School

  • Repurpose the career academy and main building, including the "spaceship" entrance.
  • Renovate the kitchen, cafeteria and second-floor administrative offices.
  • Move a classroom addition to the commons building.
  • Add an auxiliary gym for physical education classes.
  • Build a new connection between the main building and the performing arts center and existing gym.
  • Move drop-off to Commerce Street.
  • Add 44 instructional units, up from 54 now.

The school board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Westchester Center on Scott Boulevard.

School board meetings normally are held the second Tuesday of the month but this one was rescheduled because of spring break, which starts April 8.

To see a full agenda, go to the school system website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Decatur-Avondale Estates