ALPHARETTA, Ga.,None — Just before 1 a.m. Tuesday, the city of Alpharetta voted against Amana Academy’s plan to expand the charter school.
The meeting about expanding the school lasted for hours, and included a lot of comments from both parents and the public.
Amana Academy parents and students packed the room in support of expanding the school into an office park off Windward Parkway.
“The school is small and we’re all crammed into one small building. Sixth grade shares a hall with seventh-graders. We’re all crammed into one small building and we, as middle schoolers, tend to grow quickly,” said student Asia Brooks.
Also at the meeting were people who live in the Windward area who said putting the school there would cause a traffic nightmare.
“There’s only one way in and one way out and as a mom of two school-age children, I consider that to be a safety hazard,” said resident Karen Richard.
Council members said the plan went against a master plan for the area.
“The master plan was intentionally designed to incorporate different activities, but the location of those activities were very well defined and intentionally defined to specific areas,” said Alpharetta City Council member Cheryl Oakes.
Some at the meeting said the real issue was the fact that the award-winning school teaches Arabic. The mayor disagreed.
“It’s not about the school, it’s about any school to make a compelling reason to go in this spot, and I just don’t think there is,” said Mayor Arthur Letchas.
In the end, the council voted unanimously not to go forward with the expansion.
“”The council has decided. Today is done. Tomorrow is another day and we will find another location,” said parent Issam Dalloul.
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