Cityhood movements focused on 2015 legislative consideration (Smyrna, Tucker: school districts, college, park)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

I think that the City of Atlanta school system recently permitted Centennial Place elementary school to convert to charter status with real autonomy is convincing some that CoA offers better opportunities for school improvement. Keep in mind, that because of huge tax increases from the school system, the big difference in taxes that use to exist doesn't anymore.

There is also the believe that DeKalb continues to sink, while CoA is making some headway.

That may be your belief, but I don't share it.

As far as schools, I don't see any headway in Atlanta. Hall with all her failings limited the political meddling, but that seems to have been unleashed. I don't see much headway in DeKalb, but at least they have stabilized and the political meddling is not quite as rampant with the new board.

Reed is certainly more competent than the DeKalb commissioners, but there are potentially more alternatives than being unincorporated or city of Atlanta. It was only a couple of mayors back that Atlanta had a mayor who ended up in jail. And the city was virtually bankrupt when Reed became mayor. It wouldn't take much to undo the good things he has done. Once you were part of that mess, it would be almost impossible to get out.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by bu2

There's some logic in joining Atlanta, but the schools would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire, the police would be more of the same (invisible), responsiveness of the city would be even less and the taxes would be higher. So you would be paying more for the same or less. There'd be no hope of something better.

Go check the property tax rates, they are lower in CoA than Uni-DeKalb now. Having grown up in Uni-DeKalb my money is on CoA for better schools and services moving forward.

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by bu2

That may be your belief, but I don't share it.

As far as schools, I don't see any headway in Atlanta. Hall with all her failings limited the political meddling, but that seems to have been unleashed. I don't see much headway in DeKalb, but at least they have stabilized and the political meddling is not quite as rampant with the new board.

Reed is certainly more competent than the DeKalb commissioners, but there are potentially more alternatives than being unincorporated or city of Atlanta. It was only a couple of mayors back that Atlanta had a mayor who ended up in jail. And the city was virtually bankrupt when Reed became mayor. It wouldn't take much to undo the good things he has done. Once you were part of that mess, it would be almost impossible to get out.

Politics aside--- Lin, SPARK, and Morningside elementaries --are the schools that border the Druid Hills neighborhood. Druid Hills annexed into Atlanta would most likely cluster with some, or all those schools--whatever the middle or high school cluster that would result certainly would be considered very competitive.

[lastminutemom]

There is more bad news out of DeKalb nearly everyday. Atlanta may not be perfect, but there is a sense that things are moving in the right direction. Most DeKalb observers don't believe the same can be said for our county.

As to the school system, the board is only one part of the problem, the entrenched bureaucracy is the other. I don't know how much you may know about the DH charter cluster effort but the leaders are pretty frustrated and some, who would likely be annexed into ATL, are pretty well done with DCSS, I am hearing.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

There is more bad news out of DeKalb nearly everyday. Atlanta may not be perfect, but there is a sense that things are moving in the right direction. Most DeKalb observers don't believe the same can be said for our county.

As to the school system, the board is only one part of the problem, the entrenched bureaucracy is the other. I don't know how much you may know about the DH charter cluster effort but the leaders are pretty frustrated and some, who would likely be annexed into ATL, are pretty well done with DCSS, I am hearing.

Understandable, but frustration is not a reason to make those decisions. And there's not really any concern about Fernbank.

[lastminutemom]

big change coming--
Briarcliff and Lakeside combine forces for cityhood | www.ajc.com

I don't think Emory is likely to want any part of this (what I am hearing) and so fully expect them to work towards annexation.

This is far from a done deal as there are still real issues with Tucker.

[JPD]

Briarcliff was far more interested in working towards compromises with Tucker than Lakeside was in the last go-round. Hopefully this partnership will push the Lakeside folks into a less aggressive approach.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

big change coming--
Briarcliff and Lakeside combine forces for cityhood | www.ajc.com

I don't think Emory is likely to want any part of this (what I am hearing) and so fully expect them to work towards annexation.

This is far from a done deal as there are still real issues with Tucker.

Thanks for posting. It has been ridiculous from the start to have both these proposals going forth at one time. Hopefully the Lakeside name will be dropped from any further proposal. I understand the love for the school, but why name a town after a lake (pond actually) that no longer exists?

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

Thanks for posting. It has been ridiculous from the start to have both these proposals going forth at one time. Hopefully the Lakeside name will be dropped from any further proposal. I understand the love for the school, but why name a town after a lake (pond actually) that no longer exists?

I think the whole Lakeside thing just had to do with creating a city school district. They always denied it, but they basically followed the school boundaries.

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by bu2

I think the whole Lakeside thing just had to do with creating a city school district. They always denied it, but they basically followed the school boundaries.

The GA constitution forbids them from creating a new school district currently.