DeKalb parents say new redistricting plan does not help overcrowding at schools

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County parents were hoping three new schools would help ease crowding at other campuses -- but they say a redistricting plan just released would only move a few students.

Some Dunwoody parents told Channel 2′s Carol Sbarge they thought hundreds of students would be moved from Dunwoody Elementary School to a new one.

They say now the latest redistricting plan says 102 students would move to the new Austin Elementary, way fewer than other plans parents were shown.

“The whole process was about relieving the overcrowding that is happening in our cluster and we have no real solution, no real relief to the overcrowding is just unacceptable," parent Hela Sheth said.

Sheth said Dunwoody is going to still have students in 12 portable classrooms.

Parent Megan Cann has concerns about that.

“Our entire third grade is outside right now and a teacher there told me there is no one particular place that she can see in her classroom that all her students can see her,” Cann said.

Sbarge reached out to DeKalb County’s interim school superintendent, Ramona Tyson, to do an interview to find out why she chose this plan.

Tyson was not available but did release a statement saying they are looking at a comprehensive redistricting plan and that is an interim plan so students in the cluster won’t have to move multiple times.

Tyson said the comprehensive plan will look at things like overcrowded schools, underutilized schools and new construction.

The DeKalb school board is now reviewing the proposed redistricting plan and is expected to vote on it next month.

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