Friday, January 16, 2009

Decatur parents concerned about schools shift

By KRISTINA TORRES

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution



More than a dozen parents Tuesday told Decatur city school board members about their concerns for a plan that could move fourth- and fifth-graders to the city’s lone middle school.

Parents are concerned about having the younger students on the same campus as older students. Board members said they have not formed an opinion and were open to hearing other suggestions.
The board could vote on the plan in March. The move would help the small system weather an expected increase in students, particularly in elementary grades.

Over the next two months, however, expect a lot of discussion as the system holds public meetings about the proposal.

Decatur’s fourth- and fifth-graders now attend classes in a standalone school called Glennwood Academy. The proposal was among recommendations forwarded by a committee of parents and staff formed to look at enrollment options. If the move happened, Glennwood would then host kindergarten through third grade.

According to system officials, the number of students in kindergarten through eighth grade is expected to grow over the next four years from 1,897 to 2,388.

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