Is APS’s Redistricting Decision Based on Lack of Resources?

APS decided to close seven out of 13 schools for many reasons, one being lack of resources, at the April 10 meeting at Jackson High School.

The 12 board members asked questions from their district for a meeting that lasted over 12 hours with over 500 attendees. With Atlanta schools suffering from a 2013 $46 million deficit and the loss of revenue in four years of $120 million, APS will close 7 schools.

Erroll B. Davis Jr, interim Superintendent, stated Atlanta needs “dollars (to) fuel this engine” and the “commitment is not buildings, but children.”  Atlanta’s real issue is “inequities” of programs, which “all takes resources."  Davis felt that after an excess of 100 meeting, 70 in the last month, the whole process was “informative” and “interesting.”

Steve Smith, APS Associate Superintendent started the meeting with the Superintendent's Redistricting and Closure Recommendations.  After many “personal attacks” the questions on “why (the) north did well” was because of the northern Atlanta “cluster model” with higher graduations and lower drop out rates.

Smith also purposed “Career Academies” not like shop classes, but more like “vocational/technical” to prepare for transition to college, with courses like aviation.

Smith felt that to “close any school (is) never easy...students (have) done nothing wrong,” and had nothing to do with race or the cheating scandal, but “everything to do with quality education.”  By “redistribution of funds,” APS would hire assistant principles and social workers to visit regularly, and nurses to work 5 days a week.

Courtney D. English, the At Large of Seat 7, was concerned with years of 14 dilapidated school buildings in Atlanta that have been empty for 5-8 years, and some closed since the 1970s.

Yolanda K. Johnson of Educational District 6, was concerned with “no long term solution on these clusters”.   Also, concerned on how APS was going to deliver on services and costs for nurses, social workers and assistance principles.  Smith assured her that these programs could be “provided today” or when schools open in August 2012.

Byron D. Amos of Educational District 2/Vice Chair, was nervous when APS wants to save money, but are reinvesting into renovating buildings and adding nurses+.  Why not hire more teachers?

Cecily Harsch-Kinnane of Educational District 3 was worried and not clear on saving money, when APS was spending on other projects.

More questions came from over 40 audience members on many subjects, like resources and money.  One African American woman from Towns said, we “just need help” and APS wants to close Towns, when APS just renovated Towns’ new heating and air conditioning.  She heard Jackson HS was to be rebuilt for $40 million, but APS should be thinking more about the children and “not the dollars.”

Cleta M. Winslow, with the Atlanta City Council/Councilmember of District 4, made an analogy with Stanton’s suggested closure and the closed West End fire station, which she is trying to reopen.  She said that we “learn firefighter’s saves lives” and “teachers saves children.”  With 4 schools already closed in the West End; Winslow asked why APS were supporting charter schools over public schools.

Mr Crabtree, was concern with the teacher’s pay changes and school rooms.  He noticed 3-4 charter schools, being opened in West Atlanta.

Since this is Atlanta’s first citywide school redistricting, in over 10 years starting in 2012-13 school year.  Davis said, teachers at schools that close will be put into a pool for jobs at other schools.

Davis understood, "It's a painful process. No one wants it to be done. We have tried to be sensitive to community impacts, but we also tried to recognize the conditions we face."  This decision based on demographic studies and under-enrollment with Atlanta's population shift from closing public housing, foreclosed homes, and the Global Recession.  The state will not fund schools with less than 450 students.

Davis, "Also will be looking at staffing cuts in a large number of areas.  One…I'm committed to doing is moving people and resources out of the central office and into the schools".

The final recommendation of closures was, Capitol View Elementary students will move to Perkerson Elementary.

Cook Elementary students will move to Centennial Place, Hope-Hill, Parkside or Whitefoord Elementary.

East Lake Elementary will move to Toomer Elementary.

Herndon Elementary will move to Bethune Elementary.

White Elementary will move to Grove Park or Woodson Elementary.

Parks and Kennedy Middle Schools will remain open in 2014.  January 2015, Parks MS will become a career academy.

Kennedy MS will close in 2014 and rising 6th graders will move to Brown MS for 2012-13 and rising 7th-8th graders will remain at Kennedy.  Kennedy will become a career academy.