High School on Bethany Bend Even Bigger than Roswell High

The high school rising on Bethany Bend is big–real big, its first principal, Edward Spurka realized only after visiting the site under construction.

"I didn't notice how big of a building it was until I was standing in the parking lot.  It's a big building. It's about a third bigger than Roswell High School," said Spurka, who previously was Roswell High's principal.

Spurka gave Milton City Council an update on the school on Monday night, Aug. 8, which will open June of 2012, allowing for plenty of time for preparations before students attend in August. He predicts that there will be around 1,550 to 1,850 students attending. 

City Council member Julie Zahner Bailey asked if the Fulton County Schools system had made sure there were sidewalks so kids that opt to walk to school are safe. Spurka assured that there were. The principal said he hopes a member of City Council will be on the school's committee, as well as some people from the Milton Historical Society. 

He said that he wants the students to choose the colors and the mascot, but that he does not want them to be the same colors as other high schools, such as Roswell High School's green and black. 

"We want to create our own identity," he said. 

City Council member Bill Lusk jokingly asked whether the high school's football coach had been selected.

 "We'll be hiring some new faculty, and the students will be coming in next year," Spurka said.

He hopes to hire the new football coach in January 2012, and said he'd welcome suggestions for the post.

At the same meeting, City Council members discussed an amendment to Milton's overlay district for GA 9 as it pertains to outdoor amenity areas. 

The biggest concern came from City Council member Karen Thurman who asked, "How does this compare to other cities and what is required of them?"

Although the city's planning staff believes that Alpharetta has similiar requirements regarding amenities,they weren't certain. Thurman told them City Council should have that information before voting on the amendment to the overlay.

Bailey reminded everyone that, "This is something that came out of our highway committee. So I think we need to be reminded that if we go back in time, we agreed that this would be a benefit not only for citizens but for businesses. We have had citizens for a long time that have wanted dedicated green space, dedicated amenity space."

The council wants "fountains or places to sit or interact, so not necessarily just open space."