By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
Now that Wal-Mart has decided where it will build a new Supercenter, Brewton city schools officials hope to choose soon a location for a new middle school.
School officials have said they were waiting for a decision from Wal-Mart before proceeding with long-held plans to build a new school.
Wal-Mart announced last week that it hopes to break ground on the new Supercenter this summer, with a projected opening date in summer 2008.
The Supercenter will be more than twice as large as the current Wal-Mart on Douglas Avenue and expand its merchandise to include a full range of groceries, meats and produce. Wal-Mart officials said the store will also likely have leased space for businesses such as a bank, salon or fast food restaurant.
Wal-Mart has asked the city's planning commission to rezone the three parcels of land on U.S. 31 North from rural residential to general business, Brewton Community Development Director Steve Yuhasz said. The planning commission meets at 4 p.m. Feb. 26.
With a Wal-Mart timeline in place, Smith said he hopes the middle school won't be far behind. Last year the city school board budgeted $11 million for a new middle school as part of the district's five-year capital plan.
The Brewton City School Board will discuss the issue in executive session at its next meeting Monday, Feb. 19.