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Athens Tech may acquire Bryant Road campus
Published March 7, 2010
MONROE — Even as the Walton Career Academy and the Performance Learning Center prepare to move out of the facility at 212 Bryant Road at the end of the school year, Athens Technical College does not appear to be going anywhere.
Although both sides emphasized legal issues remained to be discussed at a Thursday night work session of the Walton County Board of Education, officials for Athens Tech and Walton County Public Schools are preparing to transfer ownership of the Bryant Road facility to the technical college.
Gary Hobbs, superintendent of Walton County Public Schools, said he received a letter from Athens Tech leadership asking the system to sell the building to the college.
“They feel leasing the property could be cost-prohibitive and could force them to move,” Hobbs said.
Athens Tech first moved to the Bryant Road campus in 2006, after staying in a storefront location with only five classrooms for 11 years. Since moving to the former Monroe Area High School, the satellite campus has seen its enrollment nearly double, while adult education classes have grown steadily over the past five years.
Hobbs said selling the building to Athens Tech would be the best way to use the building, which the system was closing to save nearly $2 million.
“By doing this, you will not have any costs related to this building,” Hobbs said. “If we just closed it, we would still have to spend money on upkeep, to cut the grass, repair broken windows and more.”
By allowing Athens Tech to continue to use the Bryant Road campus, the system can also leave equipment from the construction class, a program that will not make the move to the base high schools and Athens Tech officials have expressed great interest in maintaining.
“We would work with Athens Tech to expand our dual enrollment process as well,” Hobbs said.
Officials for both sides emphasized the need for legal counsel to oversee the details — board members want the right to buy the building back at cost if Athens Tech ever moves, but no price has been mentioned yet — but a vote could come by April.
“This will cement our relationship with Athens Tech in the future,” Hobbs said. “I feel it will be beneficial to everyone involved. It’s a win-win.”
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