Austin Could Add Students, Change Attendance Boundaries in 2018-2019

The Dekalb County School Board will be taking its first look Monday at a five-year building plan across the district that includes rebuilding Austin Elementary School to include an estimated 312 more students.

The rebuilt Austin Elementary, part of the SPLOST IV, would open in the 2018-2019 school year and pull students from the Vanderlyn Elementary School footprint, according to the district's preliminary proposal.

If the district decides to float an $80 million bond program, the project could be accelerated by two years to the 2016-2017 school year.

The reconstruction of Austin Elementary School is the only major school building project in SPLOST IV in the Dunwoody area. However, when school attendance boundaries were redrawn as part of a DeKalb redistricting process in 2010 many parents were angry - especially those with elementary school-aged children.

Many of those that opposed the move were going to be shuffled out of the Vanderlyn Elementary School footprint. Vanderlyn is on of the most desirable public elementary schools in the city.

The intent of the board on Monday is to give the proposal its first public airing and to receive public input. You can view the proposal here and comment at org@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us.

The board plans to make a final decision on the proposal Jan. 23. A public meeting is planned at Dunwoody High School on Jan. 16.