Fulton County Schools will hold its final community meeting Monday on redistricting and the possible closure of two elementary schools due to aging buildings and a low number of students across the district compared to school building capacities.
Spalding Drive Elementary in Sandy Springs and Parklane Elementary in East Point are being considered for permanent closure. Parents are suspicious of the process and believe they’ve been given misinformation from the school district.
“School officials have told parents [that Spalding Elementary] will be on the open enrollment list, but should the board choose to close the school and redistrict, it would be removed from the application list, thereby removing it as a choice for parents,” said Mike Petchenik in a statement. Petchenik Media Group represents Spalding Drive elementary parents.
The statement said the school district is ignoring $1.9 million in building improvements since 2019. The Save Spalding Drive Elementary School Committee is asking Fulton County Schools to delay plans for closure until at least 2030.
Spalding parents will review the latest redistricting maps for the elementary school during a community meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. at Riverwood High School.
A similar meeting was held for Parklane Elementary in East Point on Wednesday.
Parklane’s parents believe the school closure stems from Fulton’s need to increase the number of students who will attend the new Conley Hills Elementary School, which is scheduled to open next August with a capacity of 850.
And the goal, they believe, is to draw from nearby families whose children currently attend private schools. In that process, Parklane parent Christy Taylor expects Fulton County Schools to change the name of Conley Hills Elementary.
Grade performance at the existing Conely Hills Elementary School is poor, according to a recent U.S. News World Report.
Parklane parents are expecting their children to be transferred to Hapeville Elementary or College Park Elementary.
“We have a closed hospital right next to us, said Gabriella Mooney on Friday. Her son is a first grader at Parklane. “We’re seeing so much disinvestment in our neighborhood, and [the message is] basically telling our kids, you don’t deserve things in your neighborhood.”
“Just like Spalding, we have a very large special needs population in our school. We also have the homeless liaison office in our school. We have a lot of students who are coming through who live in extended stay hotels [close by.]”
