Schools

A Conversation with CINS President Abby Martin

Martin talks redistricting, quality of education and more

Abby Martin, co-president of Council of Intown Neighborhoods and Schools, sat down with Patch to talk about Atlanta Public Schools redistricting.

CINS is a nonprofit group that advocates for the Grady High School cluster. The Grady High cluster includes Centennial Place Elementary, Hope-Hill Elementary, East Lake Elementary, , , , Toomer Elementary, Coan Middle, , King Middle.

Patch: Do you think the process is working?

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Martin: I don’t know how to evaluate this process because I’ve never been through a district-wide redistricting before. My only comparable experience is when Morningside Elementary School was overcrowded.  That required a neighborhood redistricting. This is far more complex if they are going to get it right.

Patch: At the beginning of the process, CINS came out and said they weren’t going to comment on the process or make any proposals. Why?

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Martin: CINS is comprised of 11 member schools that make up the Grady Cluster and our board of directors includes representatives from each of these member schools. Given our unique role in the community, it’s very tempting to craft a plan on behalf of everyone, but we would never be able to adequately address all the needs and interests of every member school in an equitable manner.  Inclusive community input is important to the process.

Patch: Other cluster organizations feel comfortable doing this. Have you reconsidered?

Martin: NAPPS, SEACS and SNAPPS have all decided to handle this in their own respective ways, none of which are alike, and CINS respects their leadership roles in their communities.  Our issues are quite different.  To my knowledge, the Grady Cluster is the only one that APS is redistricting out of their current cluster pattern.

Patch: The proposals that are on the table from the demographers — do you see them as viable options?

Martin: I see the proposals on the table as simply demographic studies. Accordingly, they do not contain the important layering from Atlanta Public Schools necessary to evaluate whether it would be a good and viable redistricting. 

Patch: What would those layers be?

Martin: Some examples of layers that are necessary include curriculum and instruction, financial, facilities, transportation and legal.

Patch: Why legal?

Martin: There are neighborhood threats of litigation and allegations of discrimination. In any business, it’s prudent to mitigate your legal exposure, but in this case, given APS’ budgetary constraints it would be a prudent exercise.

Patch: Do you see this process as a way to address the quality of education in the district?

Martin: A quality education is the primary objective of the Atlanta Public Schools.  Based upon my decade of involvement in the Grady cluster of schools, there is a discernible difference in quality given where APS has historically placed phenomenal principals, teachers, staffing and resourcing. There is a measurable difference in outcome for the students. I think Atlanta Public Schools knows how to structure great schools. Atlanta Public Schools just needs to widen its model and include all neighborhood schools.

Patch: There’s been a lot of discussion about parent involvement making a great school. What’s your take on that?

Martin: The responsibility for a great school doesn’t solely lie on the Atlanta Pubic Schools.  A child’s best advocate, mentor and advisor is his or her own parent. Each child that enters public school needs to have a fully engaged parent from birth through twelfth grade.  Each parent needs to partner at all levels with the child’s teachers.  This kind of parent involvement raises the level of student achievement at all levels and helps make a truly great school.

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