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Decatur board outlines new Early Childhood Learning Center to serve Decatur Housing Authority residents
Summary
City Schools of Decatur leaders presented a conceptual plan for a new Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) on land acquired from the Decatur Housing Authority, saying it would serve about 135–150 children, reserve seats for DHA families, pursue mixed funding, and finalize design documents by Feb–Mar.
The City Schools of Decatur on Jan. 22 presented a conceptual design for a new Early Childhood Learning Center that officials said would prioritize children living at the nearby Decatur Housing Authority and aim to serve about 135–150 students from birth through pre-K.
Board member Dr. Jana Johnson Davis told the community that district research and local surveys show a gap in access: “Right now, we have 67 children who are not enrolled in an early childhood education program at all,” she said, framing the ECLC as targeted to close that gap and improve kindergarten readiness.
District vice chair Hans Utz described the plans as conceptual and said the board expects schematic designs and more precise cost estimates by February–March. The proposed building would offer 13 birth-through-pre-K classrooms and flexible spaces; Utz said the board is exploring mass timber for sustainability and is committed to preserving as much green space on the lot as possible.
Administrators and staff also outlined an affordability and enrollment approach. Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Burton described a three-part model under consideration: “a third of our students at the new early learning center would be at no cost, so a scholarship, 1/3 would be at a reduced rate, and then our last third would be at full pay,” she said, while emphasizing the board’s stated priority that seats be reserved for DHA residents and for current Frasier Center families and staff.
When asked whether the Frasier Center could be reconfigured to provide additional athletic space, district leaders said a primary constraint is the deed attached to the land donated by the Decatur Housing Authority. “A part of the deed when it was transferred requires that we build and use that land to build an early childhood learning center,” Utz said, noting that other uses, such as an athletic field, are not permitted by that agreement.
Officials said the district will pursue multiple funding sources to cover capital and operating costs, naming SPLOST, grants, donations and general-fund support as possibilities and saying they were engaging philanthropic partners (the superintendent noted recent meetings with the Zeiss Foundation, the Whitehead Foundation and others, and said United Way may accompany a site visit). Board materials and public questions referenced an estimated capital cost “upwards of $22,000,000” on a slide; administrators said they will provide more precise cost estimates when schematic documents are completed.
The district committed to continued community engagement, focus groups and architect-led meetings as designs are refined. Leaders said the ECLC’s construction timeline remains in early phases and that further updates will be presented to the board as funding and design work advance. The board also said the district will report quarterly on funding development and operating-cost planning.
The meeting closed with staff instructing residents how to provide formal input and sign up for focus groups via earlylearning@csdecatur.net; board members said the next major design milestones are expected in February–March.
