The mayor of East Point voiced criticism of the Fulton County School System, recently, saying the district should be more innovative and competitive with private and charter schools — instead of possibly closing two elementary schools.
Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham said she was “beyond disappointed” to learn last month that Fulton County Schools is considering closing Parklane Elementary in East Point and Spalding Drive Elementary in Sandy Springs.
“There’s a lack of care and concern,” she said of the Fulton school board.
Ingraham added that she will be strategizing with Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul on ways to keep the schools open.
According to the school district, the two elementary schools could close due to low kindergarten enrollment possibly due to lower birth rates and aging buildings.
“[The schools] become inefficient financially,” Brian Noyes, Fulton County Schools chief communications officer, said. “Taxpayers want us to be efficient with our money. Ultimately, if the cost of operating goes up [without the two school closures], where does that money come from?”
Both East Point and Sandy Springs mayors say the school district is responsible for keeping up with aging buildings and maintenance to prevent a need for sudden closures.
Ingraham says the situation presents an opportunity for district staff to think differently and build smaller schools.
“If people are having fewer kids, that’s data that the district should be using to inform them around what kind of schools they should be building,” Ingraham said.
“If you [only] look at enrollment, almost every school in East Point would close. When is the district going to make itself more competitive so enrollment doesn’t decline?
The Fulton school system has practically completed construction of the new Conley Hills Elementary School in East Point which will open in August with the capacity to hold 850 students. The actual enrollment will be less than 400 students, Superintendent Mike Looney said during a Sept. 19 school board meeting.
“I could make a case for the district to create a small community school prototype,” Ingraham said. “They could build one in north [Fulton] and one in south [Fulton.] That requires a level of innovation, a level of care and concern. But it’s just easier to close schools. It’s just easier to move people around and disrupt their lifestyles.”
Parklane’s building, which opened in 1953, and Spalding Drive Elementary’s, 1966, are both outdated.
If the two elementary schools close, students would be transferred to new schools starting in August 2025.
The Fulton County Schools System will hold community forums on the possible closing of Spalding Drive Elementary School on Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Riverwood High School.
Forums on the possible closing of Parklane Elementary School will take place Oct. 9, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4 at Tri-Cities High School from 6 to 8 p.m.
All she ever does ins criticize and make excuses. I cant think of one good thing that has happened in EP in her entire tenure. Everything looks exactly like it did when she came in. Tired, old and worn out. We deserve better.