Parents disappointed by final APS redistricting plan

ATLANTA — Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Erroll Davis released his final redistricting proposal Tuesday morning, and no changes were made to the list of 10 schools slated to be closed.

Parents at schools on the chopping block have held meetings and rallies to try to save their schools.

Davis' list named the following schools as those recommended for closure:

• Parks Middle School
• Capitol View Elementary School
• F.L. Stanton Elementaty School
• Towns Elementary School
• White Elementary School
• Cook Elementary School
• East Lake Elementary School
• D.H. Stanton Elementary School
• Kennedy Middle School
• Herndon Elementary School

Parents will be able to speak at a public meeting at Jackson High School on Tuesday night. Sign-up to speak will begin at 5 p.m. and public comment will begin at 6 p.m.

Tuesday's announcement was made just as parents were dropping off their children at D.H. Stanton.

Parent Marcus Sheffield said the news was hard to hear.

"It always has a devastating affect on the community," Sheffield said.

Sheffield said he has chosen to remain hopeful.

Parent Chamanda Duncan said she is sad, but she understands.

"Me and my husband go up to the school to check on it, and you can see there aren't a lot of kids going," Duncan said.

Davis cited under enrollment as the reason behind closing the 10 schools.

A crossing guard outside the school said her heart is heavy with the news. She showed Channel 2's Amanda Cook a copy of her own report card from the school -- from 1972.

Davis addressed parents' concern about empty buildings in their neighborhoods by forming a repurposing committee.

The school board is expected to vote on the proposal after the community meeting.

Davis posted a letter to the APS website on Monday.

"While it is difficult to propose the closing of any school, it is a necessary step to ensuring that all of our schools are enrolled to minimum capacities so that essential educational resources can be equitably distributed," Davis said. "My intent all along has been to reconfigure the system through consolidations and realignment of feeder patterns to put the district in the position to provide a quality education to all of our students, regardless of where they live and go to school."

Check back with WSBTV.com and watch Channel 2 Action News for more information.

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