Forsyth County Schools approves $474M facilities plan, greenlights new school designs

Forsyth County Schools has approved a five-year facilities plan totaling $474 million to reshape the district by 2030, and the Board of Education also approved design contracts for a new elementary school and for additions at Lambert High and Liberty Middle. The board action on the three design contracts and the $474 million plan marks the district’s largest coordinated facilities push in recent materials released by the district.

The district’s summary materials state, “The plan includes major infrastructure updates and has earned praise from the state's review team.” Those materials describe the effort as one of the district’s “long-term growth strategies,” but they do not include an approval date for the five-year plan, a line-item budget, or named funding sources tied to the $474 million total.

Facility operations documents include a public Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act notice dated August 2025. The notice states, “The Forsyth County School System AHERA Management Plan is available for public inspection upon request at the Forsyth County Board of Education Office, 1120 Dahlonega Hwy., Cumming, Georgia 30040,” and directs anyone seeking the plan to “contact the Forsyth County Board of Education, Facilities Office at 770.887.2461.” The AHERA notice cites the legal requirement: section 763.93(4) of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, 40 CFR Part 763, October 30, 1987.

District planning documents spell out the Facilities Department’s responsibilities in concrete terms. “Facility Planning includes management of land purchases (right-of-way & easements), the design for all new buildings, existing building renovation, modification and/or addition projects, the SPLOST Needs Assessment, the Local Facilities Plan with the GA DOE, and School Initiated Projects,” the materials say. The facilities office further notes, “The Forsyth County Schools' Facilities Department works closely with the county's Planning and Zoning Department” and that “our staff monthly receives residential zoning classifications (does not include commercial) and prepares impact statements for each project,” with summary sheets posted by the district.

A public announcement of the board approvals drew visible local reaction online, registering 19 reactions, 13 comments and two shares on the post captured in district-area coverage. Commenters included Kristie Wilson, who asked, “What’s being added to Liberty?” and Pat Taylor, who wrote, “I thought that enrollment was down so why new additions?” The materials confirming the design-contract approvals do not list the design firms, contract values, scope details for the Lambert High and Liberty Middle additions, or construction timetables.

Key items remaining to be released publicly include the plan’s start and end dates relative to the five-year term, a budget breakdown for the $474 million total, identified funding sources such as SPLOST or bonds, the identities and fees of the design firms hired for the three projects, and enrollment projections that would justify new construction and additions. Residents and interested parties may inspect the AHERA Management Plan at the Board of Education office at 1120 Dahlonega Hwy., Cumming, or call the Facilities Office at 770.887.2461 for access.