Four years after closing four schools and redistricting the others, Fayette County is finding itself squeezed in certain districts. On March 20, the Board of Education pulled back on plans to send students in several neighborhoods off McIntosh Trail in Peachtree City to different schools, following heated protests from parents. The system is, however, tweaking the feeder patterns at the Spring Hill and Fayetteville elementary schools, due to new apartments and single-family homes being built near downtown Fayetteville.
The 2013 countywide redistricting was the result of cost-cutting measures to address a $15 million school budget shortfall, which in turn resulted from lower property tax revenues during the recession. The Board of Education voted to close the elementary schools in Brooks and Tyrone, along with Fayette Middle and Fayetteville Intermediate.
Nothing raises parental ire like school redistricting, both for logistical and sentimental reasons. Parents in Tyrone and especially rural Brooks were very upset over losing their community schools, and residents throughout Fayette who felt their property values were being hurt strongly opposed the changes.
Now, with the recession mostly over and both real estate prices and development increasing again, the school system finds itself approaching its enrollment limits in several areas. In February, the committee that was calculating spot redistricting noted that a fall 2016 audit showed nine schools at or above the preferred local capacity levels and nearing their state capacity levels, including Huddleston and Fayette Elementary, Booth Middle and McIntosh High. And with more growth forecast for Peachtree City and Fayetteville, the BOE has warned that more redistricting may be necessary soon.
Fayette County residents, do you think your children’s schools are getting too crowded? How should the county balance school sizes with homeowner and budget concerns? Send us your thoughts by Wednesday at communitynews@ajc.com, and we’ll note replies in print and/or online.
AT ISSUE: WHAT’S BEST NAME FOR NEW CITY OF SOUTH FULTON?
With the new city of South Fulton getting closer to self government, we asked readers if the name was the best moniker for the new start.
Here’s what some had to say:
I am a longtime resident of South Fulton and as such have experienced the " South Fulton" stigma on many occasions, as many of us can attest. We've been thrown together from several left over areas because the county didn't want to deal with us anymore and I think a new name would give us a fresh start that we can feel good about. I tend to lean toward a name from nature that the whole area has in common such as: Dogwood Hills, Dogwood Heights, Oak Grove (combination of Red Oak and Cedar Grove), Poplar or Pine Grove, Hills, or Heights, etc. I think we've all had enough of both South and Fulton. Will be watching with great interest to see what other ideas people have. — L. Harris
Fulton Hills, Georgia. Thats it! — Abdul Shaakir
I think our new name should speak to what this area is known for; the airport (especially our own Delta Airlines), creeks, and lakes: Delta City, Delta Lakes, Delta Creek. — Sherole Thrash
In the past few years, I have heard more of the regional names during the news than ever before. A few years ago, news anchors and others would use street names or landmarks to describe an area, for instance, "The Big Chicken." Now, we hear, "North Fulton" or "South Fulton." This has almost been subtle segregation in the news, because we know who lives where. The name change will help those in the area who do not wish to be depicted by the news. When I hear, Wolf Creek, I think of good schools and thriving businesses. When I hear south anything it makes be think of crime. This negative connotation has been created by the media and of course a not so friendly neighborhood criminal. However, some may still ask, is a name change really necessary? Answer: How do we change the negative connotation without changing the name? I would be most interested in learning that one. Yes, Wolf Creek is only a small portion of the city, but the other areas have already made a name for themselves and well, in some cases, not such a good one. We will continue to support our schools and work with community organizations to minimize the crime, however crime will continue to occur, unfortunately. So, we will get the opportunity to vote in November on a name and hopefully it will bring positive, warm and fuzzy feelings to everyone. — Melody Huff
I saw the article asking for input in Cliftondale Community and would not mind if the new name of our city is actually South Fulton. The only other I like or suggest is Wolf Creek. — Tiffany Morman
Listed is my suggestions for the name of our new city: 1) Fulton Hills, 2) Southern Hills, 3) South Creek. —
Lillie Hopkins
Shelagh MaRee Hardrich for the AJC
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