Brookhaven unscathed by Superintendent's recommendations

Brookhaven schools were untouched in the Interim Superintendent's recommendations to consolidate and redistrict Dekalb County Schools.

A preliminary proposal under a centralized plan to consolidate the district included a move of 41 students to and 21 Ashford Park students to Montgomery Elementary School. Under the same proposal, it was recommended that 35 Woodward Elementary School students be moved to Montlcair Elementary School and 30 Dresden Elementary Students would move to Ashford Park School.

None of the options were presented during Superintendent Ramona Tyson's recommendations Monday night.

"I was very pleased at the recommendations interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson presented last night," said Diane Allers, Ashford Park School PTA president. "The recommendations were not only well thought out as far as enrollment numbers and natural attendance lines, but they also seemed to respect the overall input they had received during the public input sessions.  As they had mentioned, not everyone is going to be happy, but I truly believe that they tried to impact the least amount of children as possible while still remaining financially responsible."

On Jan. 3, Indiana-based consulting firm MGT of America, unveiled to the Board of Education a comprehensive plan to consolidate the system to help drastically reduce 11,000 empty seats. In that plan, two options were introduced - a centralized and decentralized plan.

Officials said the dilemma costs the district millions of dollars that could be redirected elsewhere. The proposal met with controversy among parents across the region, particularly in southern DeKalb County where most of the empty seats are housed and most of the students are primarily African American.

Six public input workshops were held across the county where thousands of residents were allowed to speak up in group settings about their opinions and, in essence, present the district with a third option for consolidation. Stakeholders also had individual opportunities to voice concerns in an on-line district survey.

Brookhaven parents were intially concerned that their children would be moved from Ashford Park School - a high performing institution - to lower performing schools. Some even threatened to relocate if the plan was approved.

Allers said, "I am also very grateful that Ashford Park School's attendance areas have not been changed, but fear that they might be impacted in the 2020 Vision Plan, when it is released."

Tyson's report was presented Monday night at the Board of Education meeting and was scheduled near the middle of the agenda. Tyson explained to a packed crowd and dozens of on-lookers in an overflow room, the process by which she came to her recommendations, and assured stakeholders of the integrity of the process.

"My primary concern is the well-being of the boys and girls in DeKalb County Schools," Tyson said. "The recommendations we are presenting tonight respects what we learned from our community."

Another big win for Brookhaven area residents was Tyson's recommendation to leave the high achiever magnet programs intact, particularly the program at Chamblee High School.

Terri Beech, a parent of a ninth and eleventh graders at Chamblee High School said she was pleased with the decision.

"I think she listed to us. I think she took into consideration what we had to say and that the plan is fair."

Not everyone agreed with Tyson however as the plan does call for some closures.

Latasha Walker spoke at last night's meeting and said that she is "totally against any form of redistricting until the public trust is restored."

Among Tyson's other recommendations were:

• Close Medlock Elementary School
• Close Avondale Middle School
• Decommission Glen Haven, Sky Haven, Atherton, Peachcrest, Gresham Park Elementary Schools and consolidate them with surrounding neighborhood schools.
• Convert Dunwoody Elementary to K-5 School
• Change attendance lines among Pleasantdale,
  Evansdale, Midvale and Livsey Elementary Schools.
• Close Medlock Elementary School and redraw attendance line changes for Laurel Ridge, McLendon, Avondale and Jolly Elementary Schools.

Tyson's recommendations affect fewer students than the original options presented by MGT. Nearly 9,000 students will be affected by her recommendation and the closures will decrease the more than 11,000 empty seats to just over 6,000.

"Something had to be done and this seems as if its among the best option," said Pat Malloy, a Brookhaven parent who created the website decentralizedekalb.org. "It saves us money and disrupts fewer kids and that's what it was really about."

The next phase in the process is public input on the Superintendent's recommendations on March 1 and March 3. The Board is scheduled to vote on the proposal on March 7.

For more information visit the DeKalb County School System website or click here.