As students, faculty and staff head back to school across northeast Georgia in the coming days, the annual ritual this year is marked by the changing landscape of the Gainesville City School System.
Not only does the system have a new superintendent, but a new school as well. And, a long-established school has been demolished and will be replaced by a new complex on the same site.
The new superintendent is Jeremy Williams, who took over July 1, replacing Wanda Creel who had announced several months ago that should would leave at the end of the 2016-2017 school year. Williams most recently served as Associate Superintendent with Union County Schools.
The new school year also brings with it the opening of Mundy Mill Academy. The school is inside the Mundy Mill Crossing subdivision between Gainesville and Oakwood. When plans for the multi-use development were first announced several years ago, the developers dedicated a tract of land for a new elementary school and it has now been completed and is ready for occupancy starting with the new school year. It is expected to have an enrollment of 355 students this year.
As the doors to Mundy Mill Academy swing open for the first time, Enota Elementary School - at least the physical plant - is no more. The walls came tumbling down over the summer to make room for an entirely new Enota complex, which is scheduled to be ready in time for the 2018-2019 school year. Those students in the Enota district will be attending classes on the Centennial Elementary School campus this year.
City schools begin Wednesday and the projected enrollment this year is 7,737, a 3.47 percent increase over last year.
Hall County Schools, meanwhile, open August 7.
"Our projected enrollment for 2017-18 school year is 27,488," system spokesman Gordon Higgins said. "Typically, we do not hit projections during the first days, but past trends suggest that we will hit the mark during the course of the year."
Hall County has no new schools opening this year but plans to open a new high school and a new middle school in the South Hall area next year.
Over the summer, according to Matt Cox, Executive Director of Facilities and Construction, work at various schools has included:
*North Hall High School: reroofing, HVAC replacement , and misc interior renovations
*Flowery Branch Elementary School: reroofing, HVAC replacement, and misc interior renovations
*Academies of Discovery: Phase 1 complete, which consists of the relocation of car rider line, additional parking, and partial reroofing. New locker room addition complete by Oct 2017. Phase 1 also includes addition of new sidewalk at Johnson High School for improved student access to Annex Building
*East Hall High School: Renovations to provide additional science lab, new horticulture lab, and new special education suite. All site modifications related to the addition of the Performing Arts Center now complete, including continuous canopy at rear of buildings for improved student circulation between all buildings.
*West Hall High School: Gymnasium Addition, to be complete by August 15, which includes new locker room space and toilet rooms for the practice gymnasium, new health classroom, and new home team locker room / field house. Renovation to toilet rooms in the main school building.
*Lanier College and Career Academy: Renovations to create second cosmetology lab; misc renovation at Oaks building. New courtyard at Oaks building to be complete Fall 2017
OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE AREA:
*Barrow County http://www.barrow.k12.ga.us/
"We are opening a new elementary school, Winder Elementary, this year. We have also just opened our new 1600 seat cultural arts amphitheater in conjunction with Barrow County, the Innovation Amphitheater, on the campus alongside our Sims Academy of Innovation and Technology." - Supt. Chris McMichael
*Gwinnett County http://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public
"It's a new year and there are many new things... new students, new teachers, new programs, and new lunch items." - Sloan Roach, Executive Director of Communication and Media Relations
Click here for detailed information.
*Jackson County https://www.jackson.k12.ga.us/
*Banks County http://www.banks.k12.ga.us/
"We do not have any major renovations or new schools." - Supt. Ann Hopkins
*Habersham County http://www.habershamschools.com/
"No new schools or major renovations this year." - Supt. Matthew Cooper
*White County http://www.white.k12.ga.us/?DivisionID=10128&ToggleSideNav
"We will have completed Phase I of renovations at White County High School (including new roof, new HVAC, paint, and new floor coverings in a portion of the building). We also open a new auxiliary gym at the high school." - Supt. Jeffrey R. Wilson
*Lumpkin County http://www.lumpkinschools.com/
"We do not have any new schools opening and we will not finish our current capital improvements before school begins...we are completing a renovation of our media center (at the high school), which will delay student access for a week." - Supt. Rob Brown
*Dawson County http://www.dawsoncountyschools.org/
"We have some exterior and interior renovations at Dawson County High School this summer. The largest project for Dawson is the addition of a new JROTC facility that will sit behind the Career/Tech wing. It is a free standing, two level, building that will open later this fall. It includes two classrooms, dressing areas, and a lower level indoor drill area that can double as a shooting range." - Supt. Damon Gibbs
*Forsyth County http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/
According to Jennifer Caracciolo, Director of Communications, no new facilities are opening this year and there were no major renovations or additions over the summer. Next year, Denmark High School and the Alliance Academy for Innovation (a 9-12 college and career academy) will open.
*Buford City http://www.bufordcityschools.org/
From schools superintendent Geye Hamby: "Buford Elementary School: New multi-classroom addition opening on the first day of school. Buford Middle School: New multi-classroom addition opening on the first day of school. New Buford High School: Tremendous progress on this project and much of the progress is visible from Buford Highway. Additional Points of Interest: Our community is experiencing tremendous residential growth. The growth continues to be positive for the school district. Recognized by Niche as the number one school district in the State of Georgia three years in a row."
Jefferson City http://main.jeffcityschools.org/
“No new schools. Renovations (include) Memorial Stadium – project should take one year (seating expansion, new field house, new lightning, addition of a turf soccer field). Continued improvements on system wetlands and outdoor learning site.” - Supt. John Jackson
*Commerce City http://www.commercecityschools.org/
According to Supt. Joy Tolbert, major accomplishments over the summer include:
HVAC upgrades at Commerce Primary and Commerce Elementary
Sealed building envelopes at all schools
Replaced lighting with LED bulbs in all schools
Water conservation changes at Commerce Primary and Commerce Elementary
New HVAC controls in all schools
New water fountains at Commerce Primary, Commerce Elementary, Commerce Middle
New roofs at Commerce Primary and Commerce Elementary
PRIVATE SCHOOLS (HALL COUNTY)
Lanier Christian Academy (http://www.lanierchristianacademy.org/) continues to make plans to move onto a new campus but, again this year, classes will be held at Chestnut Mountain Church.
"We are still in the planning stages and will be rolling out a capital campaign soon," the school's president, Al Gainey, said. "We are committed to having a permanent campus for Lanier Christian Academy and will be focusing on that over the next year. As you can imagine, it takes millions of dollars to build a campus. We have a great relationship with Chestnut Mountain Church and the location is incredible."
There are only two options, Gainey added: "Stay at the Chestnut Mountain facility or develop our property on Poplar Springs Road."
"At this time, we would like to add more acreage at the CMC, Winder Highway, site...and we have that opportunity it looks like. This location is superior to our other property as far as location and the facilities are already built. And the relationship between the church and the school is great! So, a very long term lease or other mutually acceptable arrangement is desirable."
Gainey went on to say "It looks like it could be good for both ministries by working out a long-term arrangement between us. Permanency is very important for LCA and this can be the location that provides that for us. The growth in this demographic area is wonderful and it is where we need to be to serve Christian families. We have a generous donor who is willing to assist us by donating more acreage nearby that could assist us in remaining where we are for a permanent campus."
Lakeview Academy (http://www.lakeviewacademy.com/page/Home) will be opening a new middle school building and will host a ribbon-cutting for the facility August 17 at 6:00.
Chattachoochee Christian School http://www.chattahoocheechristian.org/
Riverside Military Academy http://www.riversidemilitary.com/netcommunity/
Gainesville Home School Academy http://www.gainesvillehomeschoolacademy.com/
Maranatha Christian Academy http://mcageorgia.com/
Here is a complete list of back-to-school dates:
July 28: Commerce, Jefferson city schools
August 1: Lumpkin County
August 2: Gainesville City, Barrow County
August 3: Forsyth County, Buford City, Dawson County
August 4: Banks County, Jackson County, Habersham County, Chattahoochee Christian School
August 7: Hall County, Gwinnett County
August 9: White County, Lanier Christian Academy, Gainesville Homeschool Academy
August 21: Riverside Academy
August 22: Lakeview Academy
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/7/556988/back-to-school-the-changing-landscape-of-gainesville-city-schools