DCSS to Purchase GreyStone Building

DCSS Approves Contract to Purchase GreyStone Headquarters
Posted on 10/20/2020

Central Office Will Relocate to 11490 Veterans Memorial Highway 

The Douglas County School System signed a contract with GreyStone Power on October 19 to purchase the power company’s headquarters on Veterans Memorial Highway in Douglasville. The school system will relocate its central office to the new location. GreyStone is building a new headquarters on Hwy. 92 in Paulding County.

“This is a win-win for GreyStone, the school system and the community,” said DCSS Superintendent Trent North. “The current central office on Hwy. 5 has served the school system well for many years, but we need to bring our departments together under one roof and provide a healthy work environment for our employees. Purchasing the GreyStone building helps us and helps the community by keeping a landmark building in Douglasville occupied and maintained.

“Discussions about the building began in 2015, prior to my appointment as superintendent,” continued Superintendent North. “I’m excited that this huge step forward for the school system will take place during my tenure.”

GreyStone plans to move into its new location in early 2021. The school system will move into the Veterans Memorial Hwy. location soon after. Douglasville architect Terry Miller will oversee renovations for the school system’s new central office, including the design of a boardroom and professional learning spaces.

Approximately 150 employees work at the current DCSS Central Office, which is located at 9030 Hwy. 5. Around 40 school system employees who are currently located at the school system’s Murray Educational Center at 4841 Hwy. 5 and some employees who currently work at the transportation “bus barn” on Duralee Lane will also move to the new location.

Originally built in the 1970’s as a manufacturing and warehouse facility, the building and property were purchased by the school system in 1986.

Only eight offices in the building have windows, and HVAC issues have been an ongoing challenge as the space was divided to create additional offices to accommodate the growth of the school system. Humidity and a lack of circulation in some areas of the building affect air quality. The metal building was not designed to hold offices, and strong winds and storms pose a risk for employees located at the current central office.

DCSS already has plans for the property at 9030 Hwy. 5, site of the current central office. During the ESPLOST informational campaign leading up to the June 9, 2020, vote, the school system touted its signature project: construction of a venue large enough to host graduation ceremonies in Douglas County. The school system will build the venue on the site of the current central office.

“It will be an ideal location,” said Assistant Superintendent of District Operations Kwame Carr. “It is near I-20 and has access from Hwy. 5 and Hwy. 78. The school system already owns the 18 acres, so we can begin construction as soon as our plans are ready.”

Construction of the new venue is expected to begin in 2021.

The Douglas County School system is the largest employer in the county, with 3,300 full-time employees. With an enrollment of 26,000 students, the Douglas County School System is the 17th largest school district in Georgia.

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