DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County school leaders are proposing a redistricting plan that would impact thousands of students at seven different elementary schools.
The reason? Overcrowded schools in the county.
Channel 2's Kristen Holloway went to Pleasantdale Elementary School Wednesday morning, which is one of the schools that would be impacted. A new school building is being built directly behind the old school.
The district said it will be much bigger than the old school, and more importantly help other nearby schools that are overcrowded.
“We’re very excited. We’re a very close community, we support the local schools, so we’re very excited about having a brand new school,” said parent Jessica Hayes.
The district says the new school will be much bigger and hold more students.
“This new elementary school will allow us to have 350 additional seats for the Lakeside cluster,” said DeKalb Schools official Daniel Drake.
That will help with overcrowding at other schools.
TRENDING STORIES:
“We currently have 35 portable classrooms at the seven elementary schools and after the redistricting it should be reducing those portable classrooms,” Drake said.
Tuesday was the first of three meetings to get feedback on traffic and safety concerns.
“I think that they always get the community involved before they actually have a plan or a map for it. It’s very important,” Hayes said.
Hayes has a pre-k student at Pleasantdale.
“The main thing is concern how much this is going to affect the current students that go to Pleasantdale Elementary, and how it’s going to affect the rest of the neighborhood?” Hayes said.
The district will hold two more meetings so parents ask questions and express their concerns.