Moms Talk: School Rezoning

Each week, in Moms Talk, our Alpharetta-Milton Moms Council of expert and smart moms take your questions, give advice, and offer solutions. Then you get to chime in with your opinion in the comments section as well.

There is a lot being talked about in Alpharetta with the new school opening up. Redistricting is a hot topic among kids and parents alike.

Q: What do you think? Do you think if a child starts at one high school, they should be able to finish at that high school?  Do you think parents should get to choose which school their child attends as long as they stay within the school district or the city? What is your opinion of what should the process be when a new school opens?

A: There are so many variables, I can change my opinion daily on this it seems.

First, I need to acknowledge what I feel many people do not. The decision makers in this process have a very tough job to do, and I don't envy all the considerations they need to filter through (population shifts, bus routes, parent input) to come up with their best plan. Being a professional volunteer for many years, I am very careful not to throw stones at issues I don't fully understand the ins and outs of, or that I'm not willing to put sweat and tears into. So for better or worse, I have to trust the powers-that-be that they do their best.

I do believe there is great consideration in allowing those that start a high school to finish it. I don't believe this was always the case. It used to be just upperclassmen. I think it is very important to acknowledge that if your home does get redistricted, your child can finish the High School they start.

Having said that, many homes in this area are bought according to the school district it lies within. So I can fully understand this process being a real issue for some. But growth is a fact of life, and there are few guarantees in anything. There is little proof that if your child does not the attend the school you expected, that their chances at future success will be jeopardized. Especially at the schools in the North Fulton area.

I'm not sure how I feel about the question, should parents have a choice of where their child goes within the district. The community member side of me says, no-students should go in their district (outside of grandfather and hardship issues).  The business side of me says, yes-competition will lead to better schools all around (as long as the shifting of students does not adversely affect school population balances). The citizen side of me says I am promised an education for my child with my tax dollar, if I am getting that, the promise is being fulfilled.

I think the redistricting process we are going through is comprehensive and as fair as it can be. You can not please everyone, and there will always be unfortunate situations. But I do believe if there is a real issue at hand, and you speak loud (and respectfully!) enough, you will get heard. As an involved community member it always amazes me how people come out swinging and demand to be heard. I have yet to come across a time when I felt I was not respected and listened to for change, when I worked hard, showed respect and had a real passion about what I was doing because I felt so strongly it was important.

Now I will finish with a validation story:  Back when elementary schools in my area were being built and redistricting was taking place when my kids were directly affected, I read, listened and followed all the proceedings, but because our neighborhood was close to the school, and we were never on any suggested maps for being moved, I never worried. Then BAM! when the final map was drawn and approved after community input was over, our neighborhood was moved to the new school, about 50 percent further away then the old, and in a direction towards a community I did not feel a part of. I was angry. I was shocked. I could not see how they could remove me from my community closer by and send me elsewhere. I never drove by the new school because it was not on the way to anything, but I passed my old school with envy about four times a day on my errands. We survived. The new school was great. A new community was formed, my kids grew up and moved on from there, and we are no worse for the wear. The older I get, the more I can look back and say... "Wow. That was NOT as important as I thought it was in the overall scheme of things!".  Keep it in check.

-Audrey Greenwood, mom of 3

A: When people buy houses, they often choose an area based on the schools nearby. I have to admit, I would not be happy if I moved my family to a particular neighborhood soley for the school, only to find out that my children would not attend the chosen school. 

I would also think, however, that if a new school was being built, it would have better technology and programs than the current school has and therefore would be a good thing. Many of the kids at the old school would attend the new school so, that too would be good.

I think that if a child has already started at a school, the parent should get to choose if that child stays at that school until they move on to middle school, high school or graduate. I think that future siblings however, should go to the new school.  

I do not know what the solution is. I have to agree with Audrey, kids will adapt. Kids move all the time and make new friends. Teachers move around as well. There are good teachers and not so great teachers everywhere.  Part of growing up is learning to go with the flow and adapt with the changes thrown at us.

-Tammy Bester, mom of 3