Decatur delays Early Childhood Learning Center construction | Decatur

DECATUR, Ga. — City Schools of Decatur has postponed a groundbreaking ceremony for a $23 million Early Childhood Learning Center on Electric Avenue as a judge considers whether to validate the bonds that would pay for the project.

The ceremony was expected to take place sometime this month. A school district spokesperson didn’t give an official reason for the delay.

“City Schools of Decatur will not hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new ECLC this month,” the spokesperson said. “The ceremony has been postponed until a new date is finalized.”

DeKalb Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson presided over two bond validation hearings in November about the $52 million the school district wants to borrow for building projects, including the learning center. Johnson was being asked to rule whether the bonds are properly structured and legal. This protects the bonds from future attacks against their legality. Members of the public can object and intervene to challenge the validity of the bonds. Bond validation makes bonds easier to sell and can potentially lower interest costs.

The intervenors argued that the school district’s decision to ask the city’s Public Facilities Authority to authorize the bonds violated the state’s Open Meetings Act. The intervenors argue that the funds can be used for projects beyond the scope of the city and school district’s projects that would justify borrowing, and that borrowing is not a fiscally sound decision.

The judge has not issued a ruling as of Dec. 2. Johnson asked the school district and an attorney for the intervenors submit proposed orders by the close of business on Dec. 5. Any ruling is likely to be appealed, which could further delay financing for the project.

District officials so far appear determined to move forward, one way or another. School officials were recently notified that a lease for the SoulShine day care had just become available. It is within walking distance of Decatur High School and can accommodate 184 students, exceeding the proposed ECLC’s capacity of 150 students. 

The school district spokesperson said the plan to build a new ECLC has not changed. 

“CSD has and continues to receive options for the new Early Childhood Learning Center,” the spokesperson said. “However, the Board of Education had determined and communicated its plans to the public, including the location.”

State legislators paying attention

Decaturish has learned that Decatur’s state legislative delegation is watching this issue and asking city officials questions. Delegation members are planning a town hall at Winnona Park Elementary School on Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m., and they are expecting questions about the financing of the ECLC project.

State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver said, “I think several of us are looking at these issues.”

“We know that our constituents care about how we spend money, and they care about this high-quality school system,” she said. “… I think people are watching this closely and care about a good result that satisfies most of our constituents.”

One reason the issue became a flashpoint was the school district’s public consideration of closing a K-2 school. The board recently paused that process and decided there would be no closures affecting the 2026-27 school year.

The school board has struggled to dispel the perception that the K-2 closure proposal is linked to the ECLC project. Board members are adamant that the two are unrelated, even when they are discussed simultaneously.

Costs questioned

Parents in the school district have questioned the project’s costs and rationale. Patrick and Akila McConnell published an editorial in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which was also provided to Decaturish, questioning the analysis that supports the need for the day care and how the board arrived at the $22 million estimate.

A CSD spokesperson declined to comment on their conclusions, citing the pending litigation about the bonds. Proximity to the Decatur Housing Authority and closing achievement gaps by serving children living there are among the primary reasons the district is pursuing this project.

“Through our records request, we obtained the raw survey data used as a data point to support these claims,” McConnells wrote. “CSD surveyed 100 respondents, 30 percent of whom are located at DHA. Of those, only two reported needing day care and lacking transportation, or just 2 percent.”

They questioned whether CSD received the best price for the ECLC construction. They said CSD requested proposals for a Construction Manager at Risk in February of this year. Under a CMAR, the contract usually includes a guaranteed maximum price. CSD set the price at $23 million and approved a $40,000 preconstruction contract with Parrish Construction Group in April.

“But, here’s the kicker: the contract issued with Parrish — the legal document that will govern this work — contains no Guaranteed Maximum Price and says ‘TBD.’ The contract includes no price breakdown,” the McConnells wrote. “CSD’s own evaluation documents show that Winter Construction scored 50 percent better in the total costs points category than Parrish on pricing. Based on the documents provided to us, CSD has not conducted a competitive request for full, itemized pricing to ensure it is receiving the best value.”

The McConnells called on the district to pause the project. One board member is skeptical that there is widespread opposition to the ECLC.

Board member Hans Utz said during a recent school board retreat that most in the community support the ECLC project. 

“As I have had conversations in the community, I’ve become more and more convinced that it is a minority, a loud but angry minority, opposed to it,” Utz said. “The vast majority of parents that I’ve had conversations with are actually quite supportive of the ECLC.”

Parents opposed to the bond validation recently formed the Together for Decatur Schools advocacy group. A spokesperson said they support early learning but question how the school district has pursued funding this project.

Borrowing money through the Public Facilities Authority means the bonds do not require voter approval in a referendum. The PFA was established to facilitate the purchase of the United Methodist Children’s Home, now known as Legacy Park. The enabling legislation authorizes the PFA to borrow on behalf of the city’s schools.

The school district plans to repay the bond over 30 years using sales tax revenue at an interest rate not exceeding 6 percent.

“Together for Decatur unequivocally supports early education, and we believe that incurring $23 million in debt requires a public vote,” a spokesperson for Together for Decatur said. “By using the PFA to bypass a General Obligation bond, the board is avoiding input from the taxpayers who will pay the bill.”

The group asked CSD to consider more cost-effective and transparent solutions.

“At the very least, if the district intends to incur such significant long-term debt, it is only right to allow taxpayers the final say at the ballot box,” the spokesperson said.