A crowd of frustrated Sandy Springs parents stood in solidarity during the entire public comment period of the Fulton County School Board meeting on Tuesday.
Families are fighting the possible closure of Spalding Drive Elementary School.
Parents as well as elected officials say that Spalding is among the best in public elementary schools in test scores and providing care and education for children with special needs; and they don’t understand the school district’s moves.
Parents spoke out during the Fulton County School Board meeting held at the North Learning Center in Sandy Springs.
“You want community feedback. Here it is. Nobody in the community wants this,” a mother of three children at Spalding Drive Elementary said.
She added: “Everyone is saying don’t do this. There’s confusion. There’s chaos… Numbers show consolidation of a larger school [than Spalding Drive Elementary] actually makes the most sense.”
Fulton County Schools says decreased enrollment and aging buildings are reasons for the possible closure of Spalding Drive Elementary and Parklane Elementary in East Point. Spalding Drive Elementary students would be transferred to Ison Springs Elementary or Woodland Elementary if the school board approves the closure at the end of January.
Brian Noyes, chief spokesperson for Fulton County Schools, told SaportaReport that the school district will continue specialized programs, such as special education and English to Speakers of Other Languages, to students as they received at their previous school.
“A parent has every right to be concerned about their children,” Noyes said. “We take those emotions and the change very seriously, and know there is some uncertainty and questions…”
“Redistricting is part of evolution whether [schools] are growing or shrinking.”
The possible measures are part of a redistricting process for thousands of students that would cause a reshuffling of students at other schools as well. Concerned High Point Elementary parents at Tuesday’s meeting foresee more than 100 students being transferred out of that school if Spalding closes.
Elected officials such as State Sen. Josh McLaurin, State Rep. Debora Wilcox, and Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis have said they are against closing Spalding Drive Elementary.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and several city council members have also voiced opposition in recent weeks.
Councilwoman Dr. Melody Kelley’s district represents most of the Spalding Elementary families.
Kelly commented to the school board that the district is not considering innovative alternatives to closing the elementary school.
“Parents are spending hours upon hours pouring through data and developing strategy,” she said. “[They] show up to meetings where their questions aren’t even answered. They get maps shoved in their faces and told to provide input.”
Emily Bell is co-PTO president at Spalding Drive Elementary and has three children attending the school. She says parents want an open forum for Q&A with the Fulton County School officials.
Before the meeting, Bell said families only recently learned that if the redistricting and school closures take place, Spalding Drive Elementary students would not be able to participate in an open enrollment process for Sandy Springs schools.
The open enrollment would only allow students at eligible schools in Sandy Springs to attend a school different from the one zoned for their home.
“We thought open enrollment was a good backup plan if the school does close,” Bell said. “This is a curve ball that we didn’t see coming. We’ve been asking questions about open enrollment during this whole process and not once at any point did they mention this.”
