Decatur’s new Ellsworth Dansby Jr. Magnet School is preparing to open its doors this fall.
Officials with Decatur Public Schools District 61 announced Tuesday that construction is wrapping up for the building, which is set to replace the American Dreamer STEM Academy.
The final steps include furnishing the building and getting faculty and staff acquainted with any new technology.
Principal Rida Ellis said she’s excited to see the project nearing completion, adding that the new facility will offer a variety of amenities for the benefit of students and visitors.
“One of my favorite spaces in the building is our gym, because now we’ll be able to hold family events, sports events and everybody can fit. We have nowhere for everybody to fit if we were to have a huge family event,” she said.
Ellis said that many parents have shown interest in enrolling their children at the magnet school, which uses a lottery system to select new students.
“Last week, we had what we call a lottery or magnet orientation. It’s a requirement for any family that wants to enter their student into the lottery … and we had 175 students represented, interested in entering the lottery and possibly getting a spot at our school.”
The new school will be located on the site of the former Oak Grove Elementary School. It is being named after Ellsworth Dansby Jr., the late Decatur native who was one of the first African- American pilots and master sergeants in the U.S. Army Air Corps as part of an all-Black unit now known as The Tuskegee Airmen.
After World War II, Dansby returned to Decatur, where he was an active advocate for civil rights and racial integration.
He died in 1989 at the age of 74.
CORRECTION: Rida Ellis’ first name was previously spelled Rita. This error has been corrected.