GAINESVILLE — Now that E-SPLOST V has been approved by Hall County voters, School System Superintendent Will Schofield is ready to move ahead with plans for a seventh middle school-high school complex in the county.
Addressing county school board members at a Monday evening work session, Schofield said he and Matt Cox, the school system facilities director, have been watching the growth pattern for a few years now, and everything points to building a new school in the south Hall area.
"We've got Flowery Branch High School, we've got South Hall Middle, we've got Johnson High School and C.W. Davis Middle - those four schools are the four that are over capacity and that we're concerned about as we move forward," said Schofield.
Schofield noted there's no shortage of high school space, pointing specifically at C.W. Davis Middle School, which occupies the site originally built for Flowery Branch High School. That space could possibly revert to a high school, but a new middle school will have to be built.
"The end game...is we will be moving to a seven middle school-high school district," said Schofield. "We know what we really need is some middle school space."
And, Schofield said the property where Chestnut Elementary School sits likely will be home to a new middle school. He reminded board members that property on Union Church Road was purchased with the idea that two schools would eventually occupy the site.
Schofield said Cox already has been working to secure state funding to assist with construction; he estimated anywhere from $4 million to $7 million might be available.
Once a firm decision is made on a location for the new middle school, then conversations can begin with parents about redistricting in the south Hall area, said Schofield.
He said he and Cox would bring more information to the school board at a December work session.
