Two West Side schools, Waverly and Watterson-Lake, will merge this fall, ahead of schedule, CMSD has announced.

The schools will be combined at Watterson-Lake and remain there until a new Waverly opens in the fall of 2018. Plans call for CMSD to then demolish Watterson-Lake.

Waverly is one of 20 to 22 schools to be built with funds from the state and a $200 million bond issue that voters approved in fall 2014.

In preparation for construction, Waverly students in preschool through fifth grade have been at Watterson-Lake since last fall, with the programs kept separate.  Sixth- through eighth-graders have occupied the first floor at Garrett Morgan High School.

The District is accelerating the merger in response to feedback from the community. Officials said operating a unified program would be best for students.