Schools

Parents File Complaint Against the DeKalb School System

A group of parents hope to halt school closures so they can examine the process

A group of parents filed a complaint against the DeKalb County School System and have asked a judge for moratorium on the board’s decision to close eight schools.

Latasha Walker of Lithonia and three other DeKalb parents, said the school system planned its decision without “community, parent, and student participation,” according to the complaint filed in DeKalb County Superior Court on Monday.

The parents have requested an audit of operations and details of how the decision to close schools and redistrict others was made.

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“The county listens in public input meetings, however they as a district fail to listen and proactively implement concerns, as they have failed to make all schools great no matter the level of income and participation,” according to the complaint.

The changes will save the DeKalb County School System an estimated $12.4 million each year and address the 11,000 empty seats throughout the district.

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DeKalb residents Latasha Walker, Kim Ault, Kendall London and Annette Davis Jackson were listed on the complaint.

John Evans of the DeKalb NAACP also is listed in the document. However, when reached for comment, Evans said his name was used without his permission and he has asked that it be removed from the complaint.

Patch was unable to reach Walker, the lead plaintiff for comment.

DeKalb County Schools provided the following statement, "We are moving forward with executing the board of education's decision, including forming an internal  task force to implement the redistricting and consolidation plan beginning today."


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