Opinion
Opinion

Atlanta school chief on how politics played role in school zones. Should APS start fresh?

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen sings the song "My Shot" from "Hamilton" with students during the annual State of the District event at King Middle School in the fall. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL

Credit: Maureen Downey

Credit: Maureen Downey

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen sings the song "My Shot" from "Hamilton" with students during the annual State of the District event at King Middle School in the fall. BRANDEN CAMP/SPECIAL
By Maureen Downey
March 6, 2017

FIFTH OF NINE VIDEO SEGMENTS

With Atlanta Public Schools voting today on proposed school closings, I sat down with Superintendent Meria Carstarphen for a long video interview. AJC multimedia journalist Erica Hernandez broke the interview into nine short segments. (Two to three minutes.)

In this segment, Carstarphen addresses the big question raised by the vote on the table today to close half-empty schools in east and south Atlanta when there are overcrowded schools down the road a few miles: Why not do a citywide redistricting to create better balance?

She discusses how politics influenced past redistricting decisions and the lack of will among parents now to undo it all and start over fresh.

Here is a link to the first video.

Link to the second segment.

Link to the third segment.

Link to the fourth segment.

About the Author

Maureen Downey has written editorials and opinion pieces about local, state and federal education policy since the 1990s.

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