Parents rally to save Spalding Drive, Parklane elementary schools from imminent closure
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Concerned parents in Fulton County are fighting to keep their children’s elementary schools open as district leaders consider plans to close Spalding Drive Charter Elementary in Sandy Springs and Parklane Elementary in East Point.
At a packed meeting Monday night at Riverwood High School, school officials unveiled a redistricting proposal that includes consolidating Spalding Drive and Parklane into other schools. More than 100 parents filled the cafeteria, urging the district to reconsider.
"We moved to Sandy Springs so my two young sons could attend Spalding Drive Elementary," said Aja Burks, a parent. "They’re thriving in the smaller setting. It’s a bad idea to close the school."
SEE MORE: Fight to keep Spalding Drive Charter Elementary School open gains support of state lawmakers
The district cited aging buildings and declining enrollment as key factors driving the potential closures. Spalding Drive has maintained an enrollment of about 350 students for the past decade, well below the 450-student threshold the district considers sustainable.
Despite these figures, parents are pleading with the board to explore alternatives.
"Give us the opportunity to try to raise enrollment with an open-enrollment process," said Alia El-Sawy, whose children are in first and third grade at Spalding. "Let the process play out."
Parents like Gabriella Mooney have offered solutions to keep the school open, including raising funds for repairs. Others are making contingency plans, exploring private school options, or considering moves to nearby districts.
"We bought our house for this school," said Emily Bell, a parent. "It feels like I no longer have a say in my child’s education."
Fulton County school officials declined to speak on camera but confirmed the closures are being evaluated due to long-term enrollment declines. They emphasized that no final decisions have been
made.
"We love our school," said El-Sawy. "We hope the board votes to keep Spalding Drive open."
The school board will present its final proposal on Jan. 14 and vote on the matter in February. Until then, parents remain hopeful their voices will be heard.
The Source: This story has been updated since it was originally published to add details from Monday evening's meeting. FOX 5's Marc Teichner and Christopher King have been following this story with additional details being provided by the school district and discussion during the school board meeting. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reports were also used with those links being available in the article.