DeKalb School Board Members to Host Town Hall

DeKalb school Board members Sarah Copelin-Wood and Donna Edler are hosting a Town Hall meeting to discuss the proposed closures of Avondale Middle and High schools, affecting 1,139 students.

The meeting on Feb. 25 will be held at the Avondale High School cafeteria from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Board members will discuss the proposed options to the community and the DeKalb Schools budget shortfall estimates. The staff of both schools and Avondale Elementary are invited to discuss the proposed changes.

Last week, Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson with DeKalb County School System proposed to the board that Avondale Middle and High schools close down as part of a broader plan to save money and fill empty seats. Six other DeKalb County schools are proposed to shutter. The list of recommended closures was pared from 14 schools.

Under the plan, Avondale Middle School students would be sent to Shamrock, Bethune and Freedom middle schools. Avondale High School students would be sent to Druid Hills, Columbia, Towers and Clarkston high schools.

The board of the DeKalb County School System will vote on the proposed closures on March 7.

Also under the proposal, the DeKalb School of the Arts would remain open with 313 students and future use of the high and middle schools would be evaluated as part of the “2020 Vision.”

Under the proposal, Avondale Elementary School would increase its enrollment, including with 71 students from Medlock Elementary school. Currently, Avondale Elementary has 461 students but a capacity of 686.

The feeder pattern also changes, moving about 100 elementary students from Midway to Avondale Elementary. A total of 50 students from Avondale Elementary students would go to Midway, and 3 students would be moved to Dunaire Elementary.

To see the superintendent’s recommendations and the presentation, please visit: http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/redistricting#superintendentRecommendation.