The Clarke County School District held two public hearings Tuesday on the future of the historic West Broad Street School campus, unveiling a plan to reuse the long-neglected complex primarily as an expansion site for the Athens Community Career Academy after roughly eight years of it sitting unused.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott said the district intends to restore the structural integrity of the three-building property, which once served as a key public school center for Black Athenians during segregation, and reopen it as both an educational hub and community space.
Under the proposed plan, the campus would house new and existing ACCA career pathways, including a construction pathway backed by local industry partners. The Minor Street building would be renovated for classrooms, multi-use community rooms and a heritage space honoring the history of the West Broad campus and surrounding neighborhood. The Campbell Lane building would be configured to meet state requirements for career and technical education labs.
Outdoor plans include a community-accessible park area and historic markers interpreting the site’s role in local Black educational history.
Scott said the district plans to use ESPLOST/EAST funds for the project, is in the process of selecting a structural engineer through a request-for-proposals process, and expects to bring findings to the Board of Education in January. A building committee including community members with ties to West Broad will help guide the next phase.
