DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Dozens of parents were left frustrated and confused after Monday night's Dekalb County Board of Education meeting vote to move 800 students to new schools.
Parents said they just heard of this plan on Friday that is supposed to help with overcrowding in Dunwoody classrooms.
Schools redistricting in Dunwoody
School board approves relocation of 800 students
Now, 800 students will be moved to different schools in a plan the board says will get students out of portable classrooms by the beginning of next school year.
"I can't imagine the number of Xanax Dunwoody parents took over the weekend while we tried to prepare for this meeting today," said mother of two, Jennifer Geist.
Parents said they've attended meeting after meeting to find a solution over the past five months, but Friday, the board handed down a plan many parents said they'd never seen before.
"It feels like a knee-jerk reaction," said mother of two, Sheryl Bluestein. "My fourth grader would be going to a new annex, and I know nothing about it...there are so many unanswered questions," she said.
The school board says this plan will move many students to the new Doraville United Elementary school and get students out of portable trailers in Dunwoody schools. The board released the following statement:
Families said this plan will split up their kids and make school drop-offs and pickups even more complicated.
"Some families will be inconvenienced, said Marshall Orson, the Board Chair of the Dekalb County School District. "There's really no way around it, but we're committed to finding the best solution for all students, Orson.
The parents at the meeting said they want their children to have less crowded classes, and they hope the board will answer some of their many questions soon.
These changes are supposed to take effect starting the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.
