Last week a facilities task force recommended to Decatur’s school board that the district reconfigure its grade structure. The task force presented two options, but it was clearly favoring the first, which would create two elementary levels, K-2 and 3-5.
The recommendation adds another layer of complexity to City Schools Decatur’s already tight building schedule. It means one less year for students (and parents) in their neighborhood elementary school. Further, the last time CSD reconfigured, in 2004-05, changing from K-5 to the current K-3/4-5 format divided the city along community and racial lines. At that time two elementary schools were also closed.
As recently as three months ago, CSD Chief Operating Officer Noel Maloof, who also heads up the task force, emphatically told the AJC, “In my mind, changing the format is not on the table. We’ll stick with the current model unless there’s a compelling reason to change.”
Among the reasons Maloof’s task force gave for reconfiguration:
- It creates a balanced elementary/middle continuum (three three-year spans)
- The 3-5 band allows for collaboration and expansion of the International Baccalaureate program beyond one school at the elementary level
- It allows for more community involvement because of the extra year at the 3-5 level.
Here are the two options:
- In the K-2/3-5 configuration, K-2 buildings would include Clairemont, Glennwood, Winnona Park, Westchester and College Heights, which would be renovated to hold 293 students. The 3-5 buildings would be at Oakhurst, Fifth Avenue and a new structure at the recently purchased property on Talley Street and South Columbia Drive (the Renfroe and Decatur High structures remain unchanged).
- The current structure overall remains the same except a sixth elementary—at College Heights—gets added to the mix and second 4/5 Academy get built on Talley Street.
Superintendent David Dude says he doesn’t particularly favor either option, but based on conversations he’s had, more and more educators nationwide are favoring the K-2/3-5 split.
We’d like to know which option you favor. Or do you have another alternative? Send comments to communitynews@ajc.com.
AT ISSUE: ARE INCIDENTS OF CRIME, VANDALISM UP IN FAYETTE COUNTY?
Police and social media reports of car break-ins, Christmas decorations thefts and similar incidents in Peachtree City and elsewhere in Fayette County have occurred in recent weeks, prompting concerns about property safety in an area that usually has lower-than-average crime rates. Without witnesses or arrests, it’s difficult to determine if such acts are being perpetrated by teen pranksters or more sophisticated thieves.
But the damage is both physical and psychological. Having to file insurance reports for large items is a hassle, and writing off lesser but still significant losses is a shame. People who previously felt (albeit foolishly) comfortable leaving their cars unlocked at night learned the hard way that one person’s trust is another person’s opportunity for easy pickings. And although overall crime rates remain low in the county, the holiday season brings its share of Grinches looking for quick ways to steal money and gifts.
When we asked about local experiences, here’s what some had to say:
Our church is located on the Fayetteville square. Our pastor thought it would look nice if we had some brightness on our property for the annual parade. Members worked very hard to purchase, assemble, and set up a display of deer, angels and lights on our fence and in the trees. High winds blew the angels over and the members came back to secure them so they would be ready for the parade on Dec. 3. During the night of Dec. 2 someone decided that they needed to take our angels. They were in such a hurry that they yanked them out of the ground and one of them lost its halo. If you see two large angels, one minus a halo, please ask if they came from Fayetteville First United Methodist Church! It's a sad state of affairs when someone stoops so low to steal from a churchyard. — Clara Martin
Fayette County has encroaching crime committed by Old National Highway area thugs. — Mustang100 via Facebook
I live in Fayette County but I work in Newnan, and someone broke in and stole three TVs and a computer. — Megan Thomas
— Jill Howard Church for the AJC
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