DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Cross Keys High School is going in a different direction.

It's music to Cristian Jimenez's ears. Jimenez is a senior who participates in the JROTC program at Cross Keys.

In March, the DeKalb County school board approved $148 million in special-purpose sales tax funds for a new high school to replace the original building, built in the 1950s.

"It's very small, it's very underwhelming," Jimenez said. "But now that we're finally getting recognized and getting changes to our school, I'm proud."

Supt. Dr. Devon Horton predicted the project would mark the best modernization of a school in the state. He said it took about 10 years and teamwork from community partners to set up the groundbreaking that took place on Thursday.

"This is the best way to do it, when we put

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