Meetings about closing Atlanta schools begin

Meria Carstarphen, the superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, is making some dramatic changes to the system, proposing closings, consolidations and turning some schools over to charter operators. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: John Spink

Credit: John Spink

Meria Carstarphen, the superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, is making some dramatic changes to the system, proposing closings, consolidations and turning some schools over to charter operators. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

A series of public meetings about closing some schools and consolidating student populations begins Monday evening.

The first will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at Jackson High School, 801 Glenwood Avenue SE.

Atlanta Public Schools’ Superintendent Meria Carstarphen is recommending the changes that could affect Benteen and D.H. Stanton elementary schools, Burgess-Peterson Academy, Parkside Elementary, and Toomer and Whitefoord elementaries in the Jackson cluster.

Changes are also proposed for Adamsville Primary, Miles Intermediate, and West Manor Elementary in the Mays cluster. If adopted by the school board, the changes will take place in the 2017-2018 school year.

The consolidations are also causing the school board to consider redrawing school attendance zones, which could send students to different schools. And school staff will be affected, with some teachers, administrators and staff shifting or possibly losing their jobs.

This is a second wave of closings and consolidations Carstarphen is making to address multiple issues.

There will be a second meeting Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. at Whitefoord Elementary, 35 Whitefoord Ave. NE.

A third meeting for the Jackson cluster will take place March 1 at 6 p.m. at Benteen Elementary, 200 Cassanova St. SE.

There will be meetings for the Mays cluster January 26 at 6 p.m. at Mays High School, 3450 Benjamin E. Mays Drive SW.

A second will be February 1 at 6 p.m. at Adamsville Primary, 286 Wilson Mill Road.

The school board is scheduled to consider the changes in a March 6 meeting.

April 1, affected each staff member will be notified of their job status.