Redistricting would prevent school choice at Spalding Drive, other schools

Parents in Sandy Springs raised concerns that a redistricting plan required with the proposed closing of Spalding Drive Elementary School will affect more than 4,000 students and eliminate school choice for the six remaining schools in the city.

Spalding Drive Elementary PTO President Lauren Rosenbaum said Fulton County Schools (FCS) officials repeatedly told parents their school was eligible to receive new students under the school district’s open enrollment plan (also called Choice of School Assignment). She said parents just learned the policy said any school identified for redistricting is not eligible to be part of the program.

“All schools in Sandy Springs will be affected by redistricting, which means that none of the [elementary] schools would be eligible for open enrollment. This, coupled with the timing of open enrollment and the redistricting recommendation, has our community understandably upset,” Rosenbaum said.

An FCS spokesperson confirmed that if redistricting moves forward as required with a school closing, none of the schools involved would be able to accept school assignment applications from parents. Schools eligible for open enrollment will be announced on Dec. 9.

Steven Guy said this is another last-minute curve ball thrown at parents.

“While I am glad we realized this potential issue, this means if we want to ‘hedge’ our bets we must now look at schools outside the Sandy Springs district,” Guy said.

Stephen Bell said the school district potentially takes away the school they chose for their children and then take away any choice in what comes next.

“It is disappointing that FCS is limiting school choice in the Sandy Springs area only to those who can afford private school alternatives or moving out of the county,” Bell said.

Bell said the Georgia Promise Act was designed to give every parent a vote in their child’s education, but this process shows that choice is limited to parents with the means to move, home school, or enroll in private school.

Guy said enrolling in a private school is always an option, but a costly choice. He said parents have discussed sharing the burden of additional commuting to and from private schools.

FCS board members Katie Gregory and Michelle Morancie have gone on record saying they would vote against closing Spalding Drive Elementary based on the information they had been presented. Other local elected officials have given their support to keeping the school open.

Sandy Springs City Councilmember Jody Reichel said keeping Spalding Drive Elementary open remains a top priority.

“Transitions are challenging for young students, and many may still be dealing with effects from the disruptions of COVID. It’s essential they move to schools that offer similar academic and social environments, ideally with familiar faces by their side,” Reichel said. This process must focus on stability and support for the families affected.”

Fellow Councilmember Andy Bauman also sided with parents.

“Let me be very clear: I stand firmly against the closing of SDES. The decision seems rash, based on faulty facts and assumptions, and preordained with an all-too-fast ‘process’ managed by the school system,” Bauman said in a newsletter to his constituents.

Bauman said the consideration seems based on dollars and cents, and not with the best interests of students and families.

The school district will revise its draft redistricting proposals using input parents gave at the second community meeting held Nov. 4, and from feedback given on the FCS website.

FCS said in a statement that these drafts are an initial step to gather community feedback and reactions. A review of all input will lead to adjustments before the next draft maps are shared in December.

“This multiple-round feedback process is designed to maximize stakeholder involvement, ensuring that community voices play a significant role in shaping these decisions,” the FCS statement said.

A final recommendation will be presented to the board in January 2025. At that time, the Board will evaluate whether to advance the recommendation, with a potential final vote expected in February.

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