AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 07
Monday, July 7, 2008
Neighborhoods line up against school expansions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the first time since we have become a city there are two neighborhoods fighting the expansion of private schools operating in their confines - one is Holy Spirit Preparatory School, the other is The Epstein School.
For the sake of fairness let me say I live in one of the neighborhoods that could be impacted.
Both schools are seeking substantial expansion and the neighborhood associations are trying to keep this from happening. Neither of these things is surprising.
What does surprise me is that, sadly, not one member of the city council so far has spoken up on behalf on the neighborhoods. Usually in these situations there is at least one member who gets out front early in support of the wishes of the people who live in the neighborhoods, those who pay taxes to the city and who vote. I thought we put people on the council to represent us - you know, we the people. Not them, the commercial interests.
I understand why the schools want to expand - a private school that doesn’t grow doesn’t stay in business. But their growth can’t come at the expense of the integrity of the people who live around them. At a certain point if such growth is deemed necessary it needs to be sought elsewhere.
While I have no doubt in my mind that both schools do a superb job at educating their students, they contribute very little to the neighborhood. And I really don’t expect them to, but neither can they be allowed to take away from the neighborhood by continually nudging their boundaries.
So far the responses I have gotten from three city council members is that they are looking at both requests and keeping an open mind. One even said they hoped a compromise might be found. Again, I’m surprised - and a little sad — that at least one hasn’t said: “I’ve seen the plans, but the people that elected me are asking for my help and that’s what they’re going to get.”
The schools educate and enlighten, but at the end of the day they go home. We’re the ones who live here. This is where we put down our roots, raise our kids and send them on their way. This is where walk our dogs. We plant our gardens and we watch the seasons pass by.
If the people who pledged to represent us won’t step up when it’s time then there is a part if the contract between citizen and representative that has been irrevocably damaged.
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