Facilities Study Presented To DeKalb Co. Board of Education

Upland Design Group has presented the DeKalb County Board of Education with a school facilities study.

The study included a number of different construction plans at a cost ranging from $17 million to $45 million for new or renovated facilities.

“Our newest school that we have is Northside Elementary School and I think it’s 18-years-old. Smithville Elementary was built in 1958 and our high school was built in 1963,” Cripps said. “Our buildings have gotten some age on them and they just weren’t built for the amount of students that we have in our buildings at this time.”

The study also found that Smithville Elementary School should be replaced and repurposed for other uses. Upland officials recommended rebuilding Smithville Elementary and moving central office or another department into the old building.

In September, the board hired Upland Design Group to conduct the study for $19,500.

The board plans to narrow the number of options and present them to the county education committee and county commission for consideration.