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LOCAL
Nov. 3 - 9, 2016 » Page 13A
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Austin Elementary rebuild necessary?
Analysis, comparison of facility condition assessment reveals structure problems
by R.Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
“I’m concerned that a lot of people
possibly don’t know the condition of
Austin. Last year, we received a letter
sent to a lot of parents informing us that
the school was infested with snakes
and rats. My pest control professional
said that, by the time a building is
infested with snakes, you’ve had at
least a multi-year problem of your
building being infested with rats. We’re
not talking about a little bit—we’re
talking about children seeing rats run
out in front of them in the classroom.”
These are the words of Heather
Sable Sowers, a parent of two children
who attend Austin Elementary School
in Dunwoody.
“This is in addition to problems
such as water literally pouring through
the roof into hallways and crumbling
ceilings falling onto the ground,”
Sowers said. “We’re sending 4 year-
olds into conditions a lot of us would
reject as learning conditions or
conditions for workspace.”
Sowers was one of many
Dunwoody residents to speak at a
public meeting held Oct. 25. The
meeting was in regards to a $3.6
million intergovernmental agreement
(IGA) between Dunwoody and DeKalb
County School District (DCSD). The
deal will see a new 900-seat Austin
Elementary built on a site that currently
holds two baseball fields.
While many have opposed the
deal based on the history of the
baseball fields and their primary tenant,
Dunwoody Senior, not as many have
come forward to defend the idea of the
school’s rebuild.
“This is about the students first,”
said Dunwoody resident Eric Oliver.
“I’m a sports guy, but I have to remind
my son, a linebacker, that they’re called
‘student-athletes’ and it’s not the other
way around.”
“I now sub at Austin and I’ve
seen what these students have had
to go through,” said another resident.
“We’re overcrowded. This is not about
redistricting or adding students.”
“As an Austin parent, I cannot
stress enough how much this cannot
be delayed,” said a parent. “We cannot
be delayed again or anymore.”
Austin Elementary, built in 1975,
has a facility condition assessment
(FCA) score of 46 of 100. FCAs
analyze a building’s structure, service
life and remaining use, the latest of
which was completed in 2015.
Austin’s FCA states the school’s
foundation and structure is at about
60 percent of its service life. Aspects
nearing the end of their service life
or, in some cases, past it, include
the building’s electrical system,
air conditioning system, roof and
interior. The FCA estimates it will
take approximately $8.2 million for a
full repair and projects being at 119
percent capacity by 2022.
Another report that may play a
role in a school’s rebuild is the facility
educational adequacy assessments
(FEAAs), a document analyzing how
well buildings could accommodate
educational programs and teachers.
Austin’s FEAA score is 60.
According to its FEAA report,
the school’s general classroom
environment was rated as poor
because of consistent heating and air
problems, size issues, light fixtures,
non-enclosed classrooms and portable
classrooms.
“The school does not have flexible
learning spaces for small groups, large
groups and individualized construction,”
states the report. “[Kindergarten] toilets
are not age appropriate. The rooms
lack doors, sinks, bubblers and storage
for equipment and supplies.”
Based solely on other reports,
more schools in Region 1—making
up areas of Brookhaven, Doraville,
Chamblee and Dunwoody—may also
have cause for a rebuild.
Dresden, Chesnut, Huntley Hills,
Kingsley, Cary Reynolds and John
Lewis elementary schools all have
FCA scores below Austin’s in Region 1.
Ashford Park, Cary Reynolds, Dresden,
John Lewis and Montclair elementary
schools also have worse FEAA scores.
Earlier this year, The Champion
reported that children, teachers
and staff regularly become ill due to
disrepair at Cary Reynolds Elementary.
Cary Reynolds’ overall service life
was averaged to be 15.3 percent, with
issues concerning interiors, plumbing,
air conditioning, electrical, equipment,
furnishings and exteriors. Cary
Reynolds’ FEAA score is 51.
Huntley Hills Elementary’s
remaining service life average is about
19 percent, according to its FCA report.
Its issues are comparable to those at
Austin Elementary in areas of roofing
and air conditioning, but worse in
plumbing, exteriors and equipment.
Huntley Hills’ FEAA score is 71.
For more information on the
Austin Elementary School rebuild and
Dunwoody land exchange with DCSD,
visit http://www.dunwoodyga.gov/index.
php?section=projects&projectsection=7
&project=44.
Dunwoody City Council is expected
to approve the agreement on Nov. 14.
See related story on page 16A
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