Divided Reaction To New School Maps

About a dozen schools will close and new schools will be built in crowded north Atlanta under two new proposals to redraw Atlanta Public Schools boundaries.

It’s the latest development in what has been an emotional and controversial redistricting process. In November, APS demographers released four scenarios for new school zones. Since then, hundreds of parents and residents have attended community meetings to sound off on the proposed changes, which will take effect this fall.

After revising the maps, demographers released two new options Friday. Both call for several elementary schools to close, as well as Park and Kennedy middle schools. A new North Atlanta High School would be built to hold 2,400 students instead of 1,800; a new middle school would open in the old high school building.

Superintendent Erroll Davis said this round of maps contains significant changes, but he added this is an evolving process and the maps are not final.

“The demographers have tried to listen to people and incorporate some of what they have said,” he said. “But I have no doubt it will raise a whole new set of issues with a whole new set of people. And we will listen to those as well.”

The citywide redistricting — the first in almost a decade — is proving to be a weighty task. APS has enough seats to serve 62,500 students but has about 49,000 enrolled. Schools in some neighborhoods are overcrowded and expected to add almost 5,500 students in the coming years, while others are as little as 20 percent full.

Overall, middle schools are about 80 percent full, high schools 66 percent and elementary schools 65 percent, according to information from demographers.

But capacity isn’t the only issue driving the new boundaries — school officials also want to make sure students don’t have to travel far to school and can walk when possible. Successful academic programs should stay open, and splitting up neighborhoods should be avoided, they said.

Hope-Hill Elementary parent Priscilla Borders said she feels demographers ignored her views this time around. Borders was happy with several of the initial suggestions, which zoned students from Hope-Hill to high-performing Inman Middle. Under the new plans, the school may close, or students may be sent to King or Coan middle.

“In the new options, it appears they didn’t consider anything we suggested. We got exactly what we did not want,” she said.

Melody Blount, who has two daughters at Beecher Hills Elementary, was at a school fundraiser Friday when she found out her school was no longer listed to close. Parents fought hard to keep the small southwest Atlanta school open, citing its successful International Baccalaureate program, which offers students an advanced academic track.

“I am elated,” she said, as screams from excited students echoed behind her. “I feel like they heard us. Someone was listening ... and I appreciate that.”

Parents will have the chance to offer input about the latest round of proposed changes at a series of community meetings, the first of which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. today at Jackson High School, 801 Glenwood Ave. S.E.

After this round of meetings, demographers will submit a report to the superintendent, who will evaluate the suggestions, make changes as necessary, and hold another round of community meetings. In April, the superintendent is expected to make final recommendations to the school board, which will vote on the boundaries.

Board member Courtney English said that before making a final decision he will need to see how new boundaries will change the academic makeup of schools. And he wants to know how the district will address inequities between schools.

“Regardless of how we draw these lines, we have to make sure our schools have the resources necessary to provide an excellent education to all our kids,” English said.

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/divided-reaction-to-new-1322881.html