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Parents, students fight to keep Cobb public schools open

MABLETON, Ga.,None — The Cobb County school system is facing its largest redistricting plan ever, and it's not without controversy.

Two hearings were held this week on the redistricting plan. Parents who have attended said they're upset about the proposed changes. They sounded off at a Wednesday night meeting at Skyview Elementary School, one of the schools on the chopping block.

“We had planned on moving two years ago and changed our minds so that we can stay in Skyview because of the focus and attention my boys get from their teachers,” a parent told Channel 2 Action News.

In the proposed plan, students at Skyview would move to the new Mableton school, which when finished will have more than twice the students of Skyview. Students said bigger isn’t always better.

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"I just want to say our teachers, they have time to get to each and every student, no matter if it's homework, reading, writing or social studies. And with a class that has 20 more people we won’t be able to get that,” a student said at the podium during Tuesday’s meeting.

School officials said the change is needed to cut costs. They said students in overcrowded and old schools need to be moved and more students need to be added to under-enrolled ones. But at least one teacher believes Skyview should be saved.

“Skyview has heart, and we have a family,” a teacher said during the meeting.

Along with Skyview, Brown Elementary School may also close. The school district will hold several more hearings before making a final decision.