DeKalb faces challenges in upcoming redistricting
Redistricting is a chilling experience for everyone involved, the affected families and the school administrators. It’s especially true when families feel they are being drawn out of a beloved school or feeder system.
That is a deep concern in north DeKalb, where parents are gathering tonight at a redistricting meeting at Henderson Middle School at 6:30. Parents in the Leafmore neighborhood fear the possibility that they will be shifted from the Oak Grove/Henderson/Lakeside feeder system to the Sagamore/Shamrock/Druid Hills system.
At this point, DeKalb is in the discussion and planning stages of redistricting. As the recent school closing hearings in DeKalb demonstrated, parents will rise up quickly even at the suggestion that their children could be tapped for redistricting.
The challenge in DeKalb County is that growth has slowed in the south end of the county, which had been a hotbed of new housing a few years ago. During the school closing hearings, system officials shared stark numbers that showed half-empty classrooms in many south DeKalb areas. But many schools continue to draw new students in the north end of the county.
That north/south line is both a geographic and a racial one in DeKalb, which makes this conversation all the more strained.
DeKalb Schools are surveying parents. Most of the responses have been from elementary school parents. The survey gives the number of respondents by schools. The top five were Fernbank Elementary with 150 responses; Montgomery with 106; Vanderlyn with 105; Austin with 62 and Briar Vista with 46.
Asked the most important factors in redistricting, respondents listed these as their top three: Keeping communities intact (672), geographic proximity (610) and instructional capacity (486).
I don’t envy anyone in DeKalb as redistricting is never easy, and there are factors in this discussion that will make it even more complicated and volatile.
–By Maureen Downey, AJC Get Schooled blog
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83 comments Add your comment
another dekalb parent
November 29th, 2010
8:58 pm
Well, if good teachers are valued as part of a “good school” and they are pulled to another school, then wouldn’t the school that gets them improve?
Mid DeKalb mom
November 29th, 2010
9:14 pm
I think that people who purchased on the edge of a school line knew there was a risk and shouldn’t be complaining about property value. The reason that a house on one side of the street costs $20K more as the house on the other side of the street zoned for a different school is because DeKalb Schools let the redistricting issue sit idle long enough to have entrenched real estate patterns not only emerge but become deeply rooted. It is just not this way in other school districts. Now, I understand that ALL school districts have good and bad areas – that’s just the way life is in a diverse (in all ways) system. However, if lines are redrawn regularly (every 3-5 years), the lines become fuzzier, and the stark contrast between schools that are within 3 miles of each other become much less. This DOESN’T mean that the good schools are “brought down”. If the extreme inequity is softened, the kids within that school still receive the services they need in a school system that cares about educational opportunity parity.
col
November 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
In most instances, in DeKalb, the stark contrasts between schools that are nearby are caused by demographics. When you have a handful of school that are mostly populated with the children of highly-educated parents, you will have one type of school. When the neighboring school has a very different population, you will have another.
When one PTA can easily raise 100,000+ and another in the area struggles to raise 15,000, these are differences that are hard to overcome.
Dekalbite
November 29th, 2010
9:59 pm
Very typical comment by Fernbank paren:
“Our children go to Fernbank Elementary.
We moved to Clairmont Heights so our children could attend Fernbank Elementary.
Most of our neighbors moved to Clairmont Heights because of Fernbank. Most of our neighbors have advanced degrees and work at Emory and CDC. If we are forced to leave Fernbank and attend another school we will probably either move, or send our children to private school.”
Dekalbite@col
November 29th, 2010
10:04 pm
“When one PTA can easily raise 100,000+ and another in the area struggles to raise 15,000, these are differences that are hard to overcome.”
That’s a very modest estimate. Austin, Vanderlyn and Fernbank raise way in excess of $100,000 a year. They have extrmely hardworking PTA members and are very savvy at fund raising. This is why Title 1 funds need to be under control of the local Title 1 schools so the very targeted and effective assistance these wealthy PTAs give their classrooms can be replicated at schools that don’t have access to discretionary funds.
Linda
November 29th, 2010
10:10 pm
Mid DeKalb Mom and another dekalb parent – it’s refreshing to see your rational, logical perspectives with regards to redistricting. There should be very little public comment involved in this. The redistricting plan developed by objective professionals should be based on facts, efficiencies and providing every school with the same programs. Period.
another dekalb parent
November 29th, 2010
10:15 pm
If I may just remind everyone that Fernbank is extremely overcrowded and cannot be expanded physically. The building is 50 years old and I understand from a Fernbank parent that it’s a “big deal” that the 5th graders are not in trailers so that they can finish their last year at Fernbank in the building. Come on! This isn’t about parity at this point. If the school is redistricted, hundreds of kids will go to neighboring schools, which will theoretically “improve” those neighboring schools, if these kids are from families who will be invested in making whatever school their children attend a good one. It’s not like 5 kids will be sent to one neighboring school. We’re talking hundreds. Fernbank is a great school, but you can’t just cram so many kids into a school and think it will stay “great”.
col
November 29th, 2010
10:15 pm
DeKalblite@col
There are many schools in DeKalb that are not Title 1 that can’t raise 100,000+ annually. There are near the Oak Groves, Fernbanks, etc. What do you propose be done for them? How do you make up the difference.
Dekalbite@col
November 29th, 2010
10:16 pm
See what I mean by what PTA money can buy:
“I’m very involved in the school, as are many of the parents at Fernbank. Parent involvement is one of the things that makes Fernbank very special. We pay for our Art and Science teacher’s salaries.”
How can other schools compete with that? Would you want your child zoned into a school that doesn’t offer these extras?
col
November 29th, 2010
10:17 pm
DeKalbite
And that is the problem. And if DCSS swoops in and provides all those things for every school, schools like Fernbank will continue to raise big $ and use it for other things.
d
November 29th, 2010
10:32 pm
People, we’re talking about BUILDINGS!!!! If you are rezoned and you give the same interest in your new school as you did the old one, you will see the same results. If schools are consolidated, where do you think the teachers are going to go? Into oblivion? No, they will go to the schools where the children are. If you truly want your children to receive a well-rounded education, we have to do something about all of these empty seats. Schools don’t receive full funding unless there are 450 students. Just think, we could have Art and Music at every elementary school! We could be using state funds instead of local funds to fund programs in DCSS.
Frankly, one of our greatest strengths is a big factor in the problem. We have so many choices in DeKalb that enrollments are lower at the neighborhood schools. If students weren’t leaving Gresham Park to attend DESA (just an example, not saying these numbers are significant enough….. I don’t have that data handy at 10:30 at night), there might not be a problem of Gresham Park facing closure after this year. Choices have consequences, but if we do consolidate, we can bring the strengths of two schools into one and improve education for all involved.
Dekalbite@col
November 29th, 2010
10:35 pm
Which is why it is critical to drive Title 1 funds ($40,000,000 for Title 1 schools) to the schoolhouse level. Currently, almost all funds are spent by the Central Office for non-teaching personnel and expensive and ineffective canned learning programs. $9,000,000 for 90 non-teaching Instructional Coaches to support America’s Choice, $8,000,000 for America’s Choice, $1,400,000 for Springboard, $3,000,000 for Central Office Title 1 personnel. $400,000 just for one conference (aka Hollywood Conference) mainly attended by the non-teaching personnel.
Title 1 schools cannot compete with Fernbank, Austin, Vanderlyn, etc. PTAs because Title 1 funds rarely trickle down to the local schoolhouse.
Dekalbite@col
November 29th, 2010
10:49 pm
“There are many schools in DeKalb that are not Title 1 that can’t raise 100,000+ annually. There are near the Oak Groves, Fernbanks, etc. What do you propose be done for them? How do you make up the difference.”
My child went to a non-Title 1 school “next to Oak Grove” (which we were very happy with), and that is a common complaint of schools caught in the middle. I don’t know how you address that disparity.
But having worked in almost every school in DCSS, I can say the gulf is by far the greatest in Title 1 schools, and it is so sad to watch the expenditure of Title 1 dollars that could be spent in direct instruction and science and technology spent on high paying non-teaching personnel that do not impact student achievement.
DeKalb Educated
November 30th, 2010
9:46 am
I live in Leafmore – my children could walk on sidewalks to Oak Grove Elementary and even to Lakeside High. It is two miles from my front door to Lakeside’s front door. Druid Hills, is a good high school, but it is five miles away and no one could walk or ride a bike through the CDC, Emory or VA traffic. The traffic in that area is a nightmare. Sagamore has trailers. Oak Grove is crowded. For many of us in the Oak Grove / Lakeside district, we have worked long and hard to raise money, build nature trails, paint, landscape – do all we could because the School Board would not give us money to do so. One school board member told me when I was trying to replace the 30 year old stage curtains in thte gym where the LHS orchestra played (not in an auditorium – a gym) that Lakeside had everything and “her students” needed money and we could go out and raise it. That school board member is running today and I hope she is defeated. All the schools in the North end of the county are over crowded as families move out and young families move in to the neighborhoods. Lakeside is finally being rennovated after Tucker was completed. Now, they want to move us out? Why so far to Druid Hills? It makes no sense.
Leafmore Rez
November 30th, 2010
10:50 am
It is pathetic that the author would single out one perspective and inflame it with the word “fear” to make her point. Someone please explain to me why Leafmore parents would “fear” having to send their kids to Sagamore Elementary? Or are you sure they do “fear” it? A significant portion of the parents in Leafmore send their kids to Sagamore and are delighted with it. No, it is not lavished with household wealth like some of the other nearby schools, but the kids that come out of there do as well if not better than their nearby peers at the middle and high school levels.
The legitimate issue is the disconnect between the local communities and the neighborhood districting at the middle and high school levels. Leafmore is just not part of the Druid Hills community, plain and simple. It is part of the Lakeside/Oak Grove community. If you sent the Leafmore/Sagamore kids to Henderson and Lakeside (with most of their friends that are already districted that way), I think most of the “fear” would melt away.
DeKalb Educated
November 30th, 2010
11:33 am
It’s not fear. Sagamore and Druid Hills are good schools. It is that we are closer to Oak Grove and Lakeside. We are much closer to Lakeside than those who live out near the Gwinnett County line – Pleasantdale. Who drew that line? Gas prices are rising. Why bus kids who can walk or ride bikes to school over five miles to another school. Sagamore is over-crowded. Druid Hills is crowded. Druid Hills has 1350 students, Lakeside has 1750 – it’s a matter of a few hundred and not enough to warrant fracturing whole communities. THE BOE is once again wasting time and money over a few hundred students? Shouldn’t they be hiring a new superindent or writing a valid ethics policy instead?
CH parent
November 30th, 2010
4:31 pm
As to “Fernbank is EXTREMELY OVERCROWDED” folks. Fernbank is over the capacity by choice, that is they take in currently 100+ non-attendance zone students through school choice and other programs. All but one is from the Driud Hills zone BTW. If it wasn’t for these it would be just barely over capacity. Fernbank also used to be 100 students higher with a smaller school 20 years ago or so.
The classroom sizes are the same as other “full” schools, there are just more of them. While it would be nice to not have trailers, they really are not a “big deal” to most teachers, parents and kids.
The reason Fernbank works and the zone has not changed since the doors opened is simple. The parents, teachers, and administration are committed to respect each other and work together to keep continuity in the school. Yes, the parents are more educated and have higher salaries and therefore give more money. Is that wrong? Should they be moved out because they had the opportunite or struggled to go to college and worked hard for what they have? I personally went to college for 14 years, mostly while working or barely making it and going into debt to get my family to where they are. Should my kids be punished for this?
The reason property values reflect this is because people want what Fernbank has to offer. You cannot just recreate this in another school by moving kids, parents and teachers. It takes decades and dedication. It is NOT “just BUILDINGS !!!” as one post said. Fernbank would be what it is if they were in tents. You really don’t get it do you?
People who care about their kids will do whatever they can financially and logistically to get their kids the best education they can afford and can handle…period. They should not be lambasted for protecting their children’s future.
Yes, DCSS needs to fix schools that are broken, close schools that are failing and under enrolled because of it, but leave schools that are working alone and maybe learn a thing or two from them.
How many of you spreading rumors, many of which are false on here, have ever visited Fernbank?
concerned citizen
November 30th, 2010
4:43 pm
Well said CH parent. I am not from your area, but agree with everything you said.
Dekalbite
November 30th, 2010
5:12 pm
Why would Fernbank have 100 out of district kids currently at the school? That’s almost 15% of the total enrollment! Quite frankly, I can see why parents would be upset if 100 out of district students stayed at Fernbank as their children are sent to other schools. How on earth did an elementary school get so many out of district students?
Linda
November 30th, 2010
6:38 pm
@CH – two major arteries separate Clairmont Hills from Fernbank while Medlock is right around the corner about a mile away!! It’s ridiculous that you folks haven’t been redistricted already. It’s astounding that you think that it’s your right to stay forever in the Fernbank district. As another dekalb parent stated earlier, redistricting is part of the price you pay for a free public education.
Dekalbite
November 30th, 2010
6:48 pm
Clairemont Heights: Located roughly between North Decatur Rd, Clairmont Rd, Mason Mill Park, and Willivee Dr.
Some of this community is located much nearer Medlock and some are much nearer Fernbank. It seems like those students around the corner from Medlock would go there. Plus the traffic from Willivee and North Superior and that whole Medlock area to Fernbank is just awful in the morning. Crossing North Decatur takes forever.
Pierre
November 30th, 2010
7:02 pm
A belated thank you to B. Killebrew for posting maps of the attendance zones. They look like gerrymandered electoral maps. The shape of the Cross Keys High district defies description!
Jan
November 30th, 2010
7:43 pm
Rezoning… Yet another reason we bought less house… So we could afford to send our kids to private school. Depending on DeKalb County to decide where our kids were educated seemed dicey to us. I feel sorry for all the families, students, and teachers whose fives will be disrupted by this issue. Hopefully the good schools will remain good and the lower performing schools will improve, but somehow I doubt it will happen that way. I see it as a lose/lose situation.
Linda
November 30th, 2010
8:28 pm
The JiffyLube at the corner of Clairmont and N. Decatur is 1.6 miles from both Medlock and Fernbank schools, meaning the entire neighborhood of Clairmont Heights is closer to Medlock. The only way to be assured of the public schools your kids will attend is to move across the street from those schools you would like your child to attend. Heck, the entire neighborhood of Leafmore is closer to Lakeside HS than it is to Druid HIlls.
I’ve done a lot of research on the preposterous attendance zones. Like Jan above, I finally decided not to gamble and sent my own child to private school.
Pierre – the maps are pretty incredible, aren’t they? The Cross Keys district is shaped for one thing: to keep the highest concentrations of Latinos in one school district. The Latin community makes it work pretty well, considering the meager resources they receive and the gross overcrowding in the elementary schools like Dresden, Montclair and Woodward and Sequoyah MS.
Dekalb schools are one big fat mess.
B. Killebrew
November 30th, 2010
9:52 pm
Pierre, Linda, And The Lakeside Person That Mentioned Pleasantdale:
One thing we have to remember is that most of the high school boundaries in North DeKalb are shaped the way they are due to closing schools and combining zones.
Most of Henderson High’s Zone went to Lakeside which is why Lakeside High’s Zone now stretches so far to the northeast (Pleasantdale/Evandale were prime Henderson High territory). Cross Key High’s Zone is really a combination with the former Sequoyah High Zone. And then there’s Druid Hills and Shamrock.
Druid Hills, Lakeside, Tucker, Henderson, and Shamrock were all involved in a major redistricting and school closing that took place in the late 90’s (not too long ago). Any of the schools could have been closed. There are reasons why Henderson and Shamrock closed (instead of the others) which I can go into later.
And for the record, parts of Henderson and Shamrock also became part of the Tucker zone, and parts of Shamrock became part of the Lakeside zone as well.
Though I do think there has been significant gerrymandering (the Fernbank/Medlock issue is a prime example), we have still have to make sure we know the full history before making statements and judgements.
B. Killebrew
November 30th, 2010
9:58 pm
Another thing–
It might also be helpful to look at the school boundaries of other school systems. DeKalbites/DeKalbians might then realize that DeKalb’s boundaries are not as much of a “mess” as some seem to think.
The major problem I see is where Stone Mountain Middle School is located (it was originally supposed to be Tucker Middle, but the Tucker community lobbied for a site closer to their town center–and succeeded. But, then DCSS decided to use the site for a new Stone Mountain Middle School instead. Kids in the Tucker district {Idlewood} drive right by SMMS in order to get to TMS…!)
B. Killebrew
November 30th, 2010
9:58 pm
@pierre…
No problem!
Linda
November 30th, 2010
10:00 pm
B. Killebrew – I’m aware of the background story on why the school attendance areas are drawn the way they are, thanks. That doesn’t make it right. Had a full range redistricting taken place when those high schools became middle schools, perhaps this wouldn’t be painful now. It’s all bs politics when it should be logistics, plain and simple.
B. Killebrew
November 30th, 2010
10:09 pm
@Linda…
You are right on all points (there should have been a full range of redistricting, no politics, and decisions based on logistics). I just want to make sure everyone on here is clear about the history, etc, etc.
However, you do have your kids in private school. Not good.
Dekalbite
December 1st, 2010
12:13 am
I taught in DeKalb for almost 40 years and lived in the Northlake area for almost 30 years so I’m well aware of where the “mess” of gerrymandered zones comes from. BTW I taught for a decade at Fernbank and also at Medlock for a number of years (and many other schools) so I know all too well the politics of that situation. For example, the Tobie Grant public housing project (Scottdale area) zoned into Medlock as Pierre1852 speculated is a hangover from the 1969 DCSS desegregation case.
DCSS has long needed to address redistricting. Much of what has happened in DCSS is “don’t ask, don’t tell”. In other words, the high achieving schools do not rock the boat, they pay the highest taxes, and the BOE can do as they please as long as they leave these schools alone. Parents in these schools hire extra faculty, paint the schools, install technology and do all the things that the DCSS administration should be doing for all students. It’s no coincidence that the most responses regarding redistricting come from the highest achieving schools. They have had the luxury of not being involved in the problems of the school system that most students and parents face. This has become up close and personal so they will organize to preserve the status quo.
B. Killebrew
December 1st, 2010
12:40 am
@DeKalbite…
My post was not directed at you. I used “DeKalbites/DeKalbians” as a way to designate citizens in or associated with DeKalb County (I did quickly get “DeKalbite” from quickly looking at your screen name, however).
Yes, the “mess” of school districting in DeKalb is complicated and multi-faceted.
MMM
December 1st, 2010
10:20 am
If you have taken the time to understand how AYP is calculated, particularly as it pertains to “ethnic subgroupings” you may reevaluate what is and is not a great schools. Diverse schools, with a high number of students who’s family’s primary language is not English, present a challenge to which schools like Fernbank are immune. In this model the homogenized school should excel. To not factor this into the equation is remiss.
Through over priced housing and political influence Fernbank residence have built their own little Alpharetta in town. If (and I’m sure this would NEVER happen) a section 8 housing development were redistricted to Fernbank, their pristine reputation would soon tarnish.
DCSS, let the Fernbank/Atlanpharetta district lines stand. My child benefits from diversity which is something standardize tests can’t measure.
An American Patriot
December 3rd, 2010
8:43 am
DeKalb School Parents, be very afraid……those idiots running DCSS are not above doing anything to create chaos simply because they are in the majority and have the mentality…..”we can do what we want to”. A case in point……a very “high” person at DHHS recently said…..”we have students here that live in the shadow of Clarkston High School”……of course you know that the Clarkston area has many, many international students so, what that says to me is that they are moving these students around to equalize the student population as regards to international students. Again, “They can do anything they want to”, and they will unless you parents that really care rise up and fight with all your might……you are in the minority so you have to fight harder and smarter.