Seven south DeKalb schools under closure consideration

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County will consider closing four south-end elementary schools to help meet the district's anticipated budget deficit.

Late Monday, two lists of possible closures were made available:

• Sky Haven on Sky Haven Road in Atlanta, Gresham Park on Vicki Lane in Atlanta, Midway on Midway Road in Decatur and Kelley Lake on Kelley Lake Road in Decatur;

• Sky Haven, Meadowview on Wee Kirk Road in Atlanta, Toney on Oakland Terrace in Decatur and Peachcrest on Joy Lane in Decatur.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution received the school closure candidates from the Citizens Planning Task Force, which will discuss them at a public forum Tuesday night. The school system declined to release the information. A final decision will be made in April over which schools to close at the end of the school year.

Under the proposed scenarios, students from the closed schools would be dispersed to 14 other schools, according to information presented to the task force.

Tucker parent Marty DeStefano said she would rather pack up her family and head to Gwinnett County than send her children to another DeKalb County elementary school.

“If you cut my school, I’ll probably move – and not in DeKalb,” the mother of three said. “I’ll take my tax money elsewhere. They need to look at the repercussions of some of these things they’re doing.”

DeStefano was one of thousands of parents across DeKalb who were waiting to find out which four elementary schools will close at the end of the school year. On Tuesday night, she will learn her children's schools likely are safe.

Task Force member Don Broussard said DeStefano and other parents in northern DeKalb likely have nothing to worry about, since all schools on the lists are in south or central DeKalb.

South DeKalb also is the location that has been most affected by foreclosures.

While closing schools may upset some parents, Broussard said, this is what needs to be done for the district, which is facing an anticipated $88 million deficit.

“If a school has operated at half capacity year after year, we got to look to see if it makes sense to continue to carry that school," said Broussard, a professional planner and father of two Lakeside High graduates. "That makes sense."

Broussard said he fears some parents and school staff are looking at the task force to solve the district’s financial woes.  Closing the four schools is expected to save about $2.35 million.

“Our agenda is not to solve all of the school system’s financial problems; that’s the board’s job,” said Broussard. “Our mission is very narrow. It may not save a whole lot of money, but every bit helps.”

The public hearing Tuesday will begin at 6 p.m. at the William Bradley Bryant Center on Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur.