Agenda Item
i. Modernization of Druid Hills High School (Not to Exceed $185,000,000) ~ Updated 12.5.2025
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer, Division of Operations
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education reaffirm its commitment to modernizing Druid Hills High School on its current Haygood Drive Campus, preserving the historic core building while undertaking complete modernization of other structures and authorizing the Superintendent to proceed with final planning, design development, procurement, and construction activities necessary for the modernization project - up to 1,600 total seats for the modernized school - at a cost of Construction Estimated at Completion at $185,000,000.
Why: The modernization of Druid Hills High School aligns with the district’s long-term capital improvement plan and supports the goal of ensuring high-quality learning environments for present and future students. Additionally, a series of community engagements revealed:
Strong community sentiment with many parents, students, and neighborhood stakeholders supporting modernizing DHHS on its current campus
Recognition of the importance of undertaking a modernization project that is fiscally responsible, environmentally sustainable, and reflective of community priorities
. Recognition and acknowledgment that a promise was made to a community in April 2022, and that promises should be kept
While other relocation options were feasible and logical, those options would alter history. Relocating DHHS would mean it would no longer be Druid Hills High School; it would be a new high school in a new community.
Details: Reaffirmation of the DeKalb County Board of Education's May 31, 2022, commitment and authorization to proceed allows for appropriate investments and resources to develop a viable and compliant plan within the guidance necessary to meet or exceed all scope and sequence expectations in preparation for final approval of a guaranteed maximum price contract for construction.
Financial impact: E-SPLOST VI - $10,000,000 Planning and Pre-Construction Services
E-SPLOST VII - Construction Estimated at Completion $185,000,000 (Pending Approval Nov 2026)
Contact: Mr. Erick Hofstetter, Chief Operating Officer, Division of Operations, 678-676-1470
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
CHRONOLOGY OF THE AGENDA ITEM
The Druid Hills High School facility was identified as needing extensive renovation as part
of the District’s planning process for E-SPLOST VI. The recommended scope of the
renovation was upgraded to ‘modernization’ to take advantage of GaDOE reimbursement
funding for modernization capital improvement projects.
The steps to receiving GaDOE reimbursement for modernization start with passing a
resolution stating the District’s intent to modernize the facility, followed by inclusion in
the District’s “Local Facility Plan” filed with GaDOE, and then by applying for
reimbursement. All of these steps happen before the project begins.
• On February 25, 2022, the Board removed the Druid Hills High School facility from
a resolution to “Phase Out and Modernize District Facilities.”
• On April 18, 2022, the Board voted to amend a resolution to remove modernization
of the Druid Hills High School facility.
• On May 31, 2022, the Board voted to approve a resolution to modernize the Druid
Hills High School facility.
• On August 8, 2022, the Board voted to approve the FY 2024 Reimbursement
Application to GaDOE, which included reimbursement for the Modernization of the
Druid Hills High School facility.
• On August 14, 2023, the Board approved a contract with MSSA-PBK Architects for
Architectural and Engineering Services for Druid Hills High School Modernization,
Phase 1: The development of a Modernization Report, a Site Utilization Study, and
Conceptual Design options at Druid Hills High School.
• On March 10, 2025, the Board approved Contract Amendment No. 1 with MSSA-
PBK Architects to extend Phase 1 of the contract for Architectural and Engineering
Services to include potential sites other than the current Druid Hills High School
site.
• If approved, this resolution will confirm the location of the Druid Hills High School
site as the current Druid Hills High School site (1798 Haygood Drive NE, Atlanta,
GA 30307) and reaffirm the board’s commitment to modernizing the Druid Hills
High School facility, including rebuilding parts of the facility as necessary.