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Monday, March 9, 2009
Where to build schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeKalb County school leaders are rethinking construction plans in the southern part of the district because students have transferred to other campuses and home foreclosures have sent families elsewhere.
Kristina Torres wrote that the discussion could set off the long-time struggle between the north and south parts of the district over resources.
You can hear similar debates in Fulton and Gwinnett counties. Parents who live in the older, more diverse sections of the district complain that new schools are built in the wealthier communities that often don’t have as many minority students.
School officials have said construction decisions are based on enrollment projections. They say plans are developed after considering the overall needs of the district — not the wants of a particular area.
Districts have been building schools at an alarming rate as student enrollment skyrocketed across the Atlanta area. That growth is slowing down.
What do you think, is there a better way to decide where to build schools? How open are school leaders in explaining the process they use?
