Letter To The Editor.

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Letter in Opposition to the Final High School Redistricting Plan for Board Consideration.

Dr. Loe, Board Members and FCSS Administrators,

As you know we have been active in the FCSS and have tried to support the school system and our community over the last several years. With regard to the new Bethany Bend High School, we were two of three parents who wrote and spoke at a zoning meeting in support of the FCSS's construction of the new high school. We were later told that without community support from the three of us, the FCSS would have "crashed and burned". Moreover, we have tried to instill confidence in the FCSS redistricting process and confidence in the Board through conversations with parents and newspaper reporters. Perhaps that is why we find the final redistricting plan, as it relates to Milton High School, inconsistent with the FCSS criteria, unwise given the FCSS goal of creating schools of excellence and as though Milton is being sacrificed to appease surrounding schools.

The fact of the matter is that the FCSS mishandled this redistricting from the start with a pandora's box of potential maps and then caved to the "squeaky wheels" and those who even fought the construction of the new high school. To add insult to injury, this was done to the detriment of Milton High School. With this plan, the entire complexion of Milton High School will change from AP course offerings to the arts to music and sports. It quite simply guts Milton by removing some of the most committed, involved, invested, and active neighborhoods along Birmingham Highway and Freemanville Road (both of which border Milton High School), such as White Columns and Triple Crown, to name a few. Moreover, to move these neighborhoods to "quiet" those who objected to the very construction of the new Bethany Bend High School is beyond the pale. As a parent and community member it is difficult to watch Milton, which has a stellar track record and a principal, who was notably schooled at The Westminster School and University of St. Andrews in Scotland and who is committed to making it among the top high schools in the state, have the rug pulled out from under it. Instead, the FCSS has mishandled this from the start, is throwing away the opportunity to have several "gem" schools in the area and is seriously jeopardizing it's support for SPLOST IV in the process.

Based upon FCSS criteria, which appear to have been disregarded to appease others, we note the following:

1). TRAFFIC: It is undisputed that North Fulton is organized along state and local roads that run north to south and parallel to one another like a long row of vertical lines (Arnold Mill Road, Birmingham Highway, Freemanville Road, Bethany Road and Hopewell Road). However, rather than following these north to south arteries your plan requires parents, students and buses to drive east to west on mostly one lane back roads with no shoulder, no guardrails and lined with trees close to the road to get to a school that is in many cases 10 miles away rather than 3 miles away from their home. Additionally, this east west pattern for the high school traffic is inconsistent with the north south bus transportation pattern for the middle school redistricting and the City of Milton traffic planning and road construction plans. This will be a traffic nightmare.

2). FUTURE GROWTH: Based upon the two FCSS power points presented at a Board member community meeting and a Superintendent's Parents Council meeting, the overwhelming majority of projected growth is in the uppermost part of Fulton County. Rather than distributing that growth between Milton and Bethany Bend and follow the north south main roads, ALL of these newly constructed neighborhoods will attend the new Bethany Bend High School. The Milton area, which is far more developed, will be virtually landlocked and its census numbers kept so low that it will be difficult for it to support the AP course offerings needed to keep it a top performing school, not to mention the effect it will have on its ability to earn drama, music, arts instructors, and coaches.

3). COMMUNITY: It is undisputed that the neighborhoods along Birmingham Highway and Freemanville Road have invested time, money and effort working to make Milton the top performing school that it is today. Moreover, we are hearing that these communities OPPOSE the move to Bethany Bend because of concerns about: losing their investment in Milton through parent involvement; losing the high academic standards that are well established at Milton; having children from the same family attending different high schools; new FCSS rules limiting funding/debt for booster clubs(i.e., FCSS is currently requiring high school booster clubs to put down 80% in cash toward capital improvements); increased traffic; and fewer AP course offerings. Moreover, the number of people that will have to make this move against their will is overwhelming. While we have tried to see the FCSS and Board's perspective on issues such as the budget cuts, music funding, reductions in force, retirements, the reorganization of area superintendents and curriculum decisions, this redistricting process has challenged our confidence. On a personal level, it smacks of betrayal. Therefore, we are requesting that the Board reconsider the proposed final plan and retain the neighborhoods along Birmingham Highway and Freemanville Road within the Milton High School attendance zone.

Sincerely, Two Concerned Moms Submitted with permission

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4). THIS PLAN IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE FCSS REDISTRICTING PROCESS: In keeping with the FCSS redistricting guidelines, residents were asked to provide online comments regarding the three proposed maps A, B and C. These comments were then organized as “pros” and “cons” as to each map so that the FCSS could make adjustments. However, the Round 2 comments had approximately twice as many negative comments for Map C as compared to Maps A and B. The approximate break-down is as follows: Map A – 12 pages of cons; Map B - 14 pages of cons; and Map C – 24 pages of cons. As such, the FCSS has adopted the general framework that was LEAST FAVORED by the residents who participated in the process.

Finally, it is important to note that the redistricting maps are prepared at FCSS Central Administration by Yngrid Huff and under the direction of Patrick Burke, COO. They are not prepared by the Board; rather, the Board has the final vote on the map. Our local Board member Katie Reeves has served our community well for 13 years and is our best ally. When speaking her, the Board and others at the FCSS, please be respectful. Our arguments are valid and strong. Personal attacks are unnecessary and not appropriate.