Fulton County School Board advances proposal to shut down two elementary schools

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - The Fulton County School Board is moving forward with a proposal that could close two elementary schools — Parklane and Spalding Drive. During a work session on Tuesday evening, the board moved to proceed with staff recommendations to consider shuttering the schools, though no final decision has been made.

For the past five months, parents, teachers, and students have anxiously awaited news about the fate of the schools.

"We stand to lose our whole community, honestly," said Laura Robb, who has a first-grader at Spalding Drive Elementary.

Robb attended the meeting with her son Jacob, who voiced his concerns about the potential closure.

"I would miss a lot of my teachers and my friends," Jacob Robb said.

The boardroom was filled to capacity with parents and community members opposing the closures, with dozens more watching from an overflow room. 

Among those speaking against the closures was Gabe Sterling, Chief Operating Officer for the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, who made a personal appeal to the board.

"I spent my adult life fighting to make this community better. Fighting for the families," Sterling said, fighting back tears. "Communities and schools are a big part of that."

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Sterling warned that closing the schools could have long-term consequences.

"One of the things we know now is school funding is going to change over the next ten years in the state," Sterling said. "You need to keep your options open. Closing a school takes us options away."

Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney said declining enrollment in both schools is the primary reason for the proposed closures.

"They matter. This is a very difficult decision," Looney said. "I've been a superintendent for more than 20 years. One of the hardest things I've ever seen a school board do is face closure decisions."

The board voted to move forward with adding the closures to its agenda, meaning the decision process will continue with additional meetings and public hearings.

"We have a policy that governs this process, for better or for worse. It is the policy at hand," Looney said.

The board has added the measure to the agenda of its next meeting. After that, two public meetings will be held before the board's final vote.