Big annexation fight brewing between Atlanta vs. South Fulton

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

Because I am trying to include some realism in my fantasy.

Why should the rich areas be the only school districts to benefit from your fantasy?

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

It's time for both Fulton and DeKalb counties as "municipal" entities go by the wayside. Merge the remainder of south Fulton schools with the city of Atlanta schools, divide the remainder of unincorporated Fulton between the existing cities, allow Fulton north of Atlanta to be a separate school district and you will solve most of the infighting that is going on in all these areas.

Bad idea.

Originally Posted by cqholt

Why does APS get the lower tier Fulton County Schools in your plan? Why not just combine APS, Fulton County Schools, Decatur city schools, and DeKalb County Schools into one large consolidated school system?

Even worse idea.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Why should the rich areas be the only school districts to benefit from your fantasy?

It's what is wanted with the creation of Milton County on the north end. The school situation is the MAIN reason Milton County is being discussed. MHO of course.

The city of Atlanta has some of the richest areas and some of the poorest. The remainder of South Fulton is pretty solid middle class. don't see that it would raise or lower the overall demographics to a great degree. Geographically makes more sense as well. I wouldn't see attendance zones changing that much, the current zones in South Fulton would remain, the schools would just all be under the umbrella of a consolidated Atlanta/South Fulton school district.

Fulton schools.... the whole county structure in fact... being divided by the city of Atlanta has never made sense on any practical level. MHO once again.

I don't have a dog in this fight in any regard. Just see it as a workable solution.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

Because I am trying to include some realism in my fantasy.

Exactly.

[skbl17]

Well, the problem with creating new city school districts is that they are, at the moment, constitutionally banned. A proposed constitutional amendment has been proposed twice in the last two sessions, but got stalled in committee both times. You're not going to have new school districts until the amendment gets through the General Assembly and the voters.

For proponents of a new Milton County, their path is just as difficult for another reason. As long as there is a hard cap of 159 counties in the state constitution, there will never be a reconstituted Milton County. Milton proponents need to start thinking about what counties should merge in order to achieve their dream of a separate county.

- skbl17

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by skbl17

Well, the problem with creating new city school districts is that they are, at the moment, constitutionally banned. A proposed constitutional amendment has been proposed twice in the last two sessions, but got stalled in committee both times. You're not going to have new school districts until the amendment gets through the General Assembly and the voters.

For proponents of a new Milton County, their path is just as difficult for another reason. As long as there is a hard cap of 159 counties in the state constitution, there will never be a reconstituted Milton County. Milton proponents need to start thinking about what counties should merge in order to achieve their dream of a separate county.

- skbl17

I understand those limitations. I do believe that this limitations will ultimately fail. Educational needs have changed in the 40 some odd years this law has been in effect. Recent attempts to change the law have met with resistance, but those with a desire will keep whittling away until a change is made. Sandy Springs spent years challenging archaic cityhood laws, those ultimately changed.

My proposal does not actually create a new school system even tho it would alter the current structure. Maybe let the North Fulton cities be the "county" system and the already existing city system allow other cities in the remainder of the county join in as a joint city system.

If there is a change in the law, I could see it being a compromise like this.. one that wouldn't allow a single city to establish a new city system, but would allow cities to operate a joint system. Like Dunwoody, Chamblee and Brookhaven being allowed to create a district between the three of them for example.

Stranger things have happened.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I understand those limitations. I do believe that this limitations will ultimately fail. Educational needs have changed in the 40 some odd years this law has been in effect. Recent attempts to change the law have met with resistance, but those with a desire will keep whittling away until a change is made. Sandy Springs spent years challenging archaic cityhood laws, those ultimately changed.

My proposal does not actually create a new school system even tho it would alter the current structure. Maybe let the North Fulton cities be the "county" system and the already existing city system allow other cities in the remainder of the county join in as a joint city system.

If there is a change in the law, I could see it being a compromise like this.. one that wouldn't allow a single city to establish a new city system, but would allow cities to operate a joint system. Like Dunwoody, Chamblee and Brookhaven being allowed to create a district between the three of them for example.

Stranger things have happened.

That would just create more systems of the Haves and Have Nots.

[jero23]

Originally Posted by cqholt

That would just create more systems of the Haves and Have Nots.

Bingo! There needs to be more consolidation not fragmentation of school districts.

[Clayton white guy]

The track record of Gigantic school systems (Gwinnett excluded) is sketchy. The smaller City districts have much higher achievements across even economic lines. (Marietta City, Buford City, Social Circle City, Gainesville City, and of course Decatur City).