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APS final redistricting plan sparks mixed reaction

ATLANTA —
"It's really a shame. I'm 43 years old and I graduated from this school," Atlanta resident Dennis Miller said about the closing of D.H. Stanton Elementary School.

It's a reaction that Channel 2's Erica Byfield said she repeatedly heard among residents in a southeast Atlanta neighborhood.

The reaction comes after the overnight release of Atlanta Public Schools' redistricting and closings list that has sparked mixed emotions.

Residents near Stanton Elementary said they were blindsided by the news of their community schools being on the chopping block. Jason Goodman even fears the chance will have a negative impact on the area.

"Y'all close this school, it is going to mess the whole community up," he said.

APS Superintendent Erroll Davis's final redistricting and closing plan calls for 10 schools to close, including elementary schools Capitol View, Cook, East Lake, D.H. Stanton, Herndon, Towns and White.

Parks and Kennedy middle schools are also slated to close.

The revised list saves five elementary schools, including Thomasville Heights, Boyd, Fain and Humphries.


Coan Middle parents rejoiced about the results of the revised redistricting plan, which excluded the middle school from closing.

"We stayed up and we checked at midnight, and we actually went out to celebrate," said Cindy Smith, the parent of two Coan students.

Many credit their rallying and unified message of "Invest in Coan" for saving the school from shutting down. Their good news comes weeks after demonstrations to convince the board that Coan is an investment in their community.

"Everything we put in place to convince the board and the superintendent, it worked," Coan parent Aisia Anderson said.

Davis' new plan calls for Coan's students to move to another school for the 2012-2013 school year, while the district makes improvements.

Parents said the move is fine with them as long as they keep Coan's doors open.

As for Stanton and Towns Elementary, meetings about their closings will be held within the next 10 days.

WSBTV

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