The Morgan County Board of Education shared the plans for a new primary and elementary school during a public hearing held Oct. 14 to phase out the current schools.
Morgan County Primary School is the school system’s oldest campus, having been built in 1958. Classrooms were added in 1966, 1971, 1978, 1982, and 1999, and a new gym was added in 2014. Morgan County Elementary School, built in 1990, is the district’s second-oldest campus. Classrooms were added in 2000, and a new gym was added in 2006.
Due to the age of both buildings and traffic and growth concerns, the school system has planned to construct two independent schools on one K-5 complex off Old Buckhead Road and Hwy. 441.
While there would be a separate primary and elementary school within the “unified campus,” the schools would share a cafeteria, gym, and bus lane.
According to the plans, a deceleration lane for traffic would also be added off Hwy. 441. Construction for the new schools will not start until after the bonds for the middle/high school complex are paid off in spring 2026. The construction of the K-5 complex will be funded by ESPLOST VII, which was approved by voters earlier this year.
Superintendent Dr. Virgil Cole states that the school system plans to repurpose the current buildings. Potential plans for those buildings include alternative education classrooms, professional learning spaces, expanded early learning opportunities, expanded technology storage and repair areas, expanded BOE services, learning lab spaces for career exploration students, gym spaces, and satellite locations for technical college and dual enrollment opportunities.
“I like having the flexibility of these two buildings as just something to use,” Cole said about the repurposing plans. “There are so many situations that have come up with other [school systems] where if they have those extra spaces, it really is beneficial for them . . . We’re not getting rid of these [buildings].”
The BOE will hold the second public hearing to discuss phasing out the schools on Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m.