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DeKalb board narrowly approves Cross Keys and Sequoia construction steps after heated debate
Summary
Trustees voted through initial guaranteed maximum prices for Cross Keys High (phase 1) and the Sequoia middle/high campus after hours of questions about community engagement, magnet programming, cost escalation and timing; opponents argued for delay to define programming and avoid mistakes.
A contentious debate over two long‑planned school rebuilds and additions ended with the DeKalb County Board of Education approving initial construction steps for Cross Keys High School and the Sequoia campus, despite objections from several trustees who said the community and programming decisions were not finalized.
Operations staff asked the board to establish an initial guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $44,419,077 for a Cross Keys High School addition and modernization as part of a construction-manager-at‑risk agreement. Staff said the estimated total project cost is roughly $124 million and that approving phase‑one site and early work helps lock in prices amid rapidly rising construction costs. During the meeting trustee Miss McGinnis moved to postpone the GMP vote to allow more public discussion and to resolve questions about whether the rebuilt campus would be a magnet, CTAE center or a neighborhood high school.
"I am not comfortable moving forward when we really don't know what programming we're going to have at that school at this point," Miss McGinnis said, adding concern that building to the wrong program could be more costly in the long run. Supporters countered that delay might make the work significantly more expensive and could jeopardize contractor availability. "If we lock in in July, I guarantee you this price will be up," one board member said.
The motion to postpone failed on a 3–2 vote. The board later approved the Cross Keys GMP in the action portion of the meeting; the clerk recorded that the motion passed 3–2. The board also approved a phase‑one GMP for the Sequoia middle/high campus (East BLOST 6 project) after similar discussion about timing, phasing and community input.
What it means: Approving GMPs allows the district to proceed with early site and phase‑one construction work while final programmatic decisions, student assignment planning and design details continue. Trustees asked staff to increase community outreach and promised further public conversation about magnet versus neighborhood programming and athletic/field needs.
Votes: The Cross Keys action passed on a 3–2 vote; the Sequoia phase‑one action also passed by a similar close margin.
