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Residents urge Sandy Springs council to help Spalding families after school closure; some plan charter option
Summary
Multiple residents and advocacy groups told the City Council they were devastated by Fulton County Schools’ decision to close Spalding Drive Elementary and raised concerns about redistricting, overcrowding and equity. At least one local group said it will pursue a charter school option.
Several residents and community representatives used the public-comment period on March 4 to criticize Fulton County Schools’ decision to close Spalding Drive Elementary, to thank city leaders who supported families, and to outline next steps including pursuit of a charter school.
"You guys unequivocally failed," Alexander Somer told the council, criticizing the district’s decision and saying children in his neighborhood will be shifted to a lower-performing school. Somer added he will run for mayor of Sandy Springs.
Raymond Groat, speaking for the "Sandy Save Spalding Drive Elementary Committee," thanked city leaders for their support and said the group intends to pursue a charter-school option to continue providing education for affected students. "The fight's not over," Groat said, and asked for continued public and private support.
Parent Natasha Crawford criticized Fulton County Schools for what she called a lack of meaningful community engagement in the consolidation process and said families were left with "complete distrust, uncertainty, and concern for our children." Crawford urged the council to collaborate with parents and community leaders on educational options, including local partnerships, special-needs supports and legislation that would allow charter or alternative offerings.
Why it matters: Speakers linked the closure to potential overcrowding and feeder-misalignment at nearby schools and asked the city to assist in exploring alternative education options for affected families.
Council response: Council members listened during public comment; no formal council action or vote on school district decisions occurred at the meeting because school district authority rests with Fulton County Schools.
Quotes from the public record: "You guys unequivocally failed..." — Alexander Somer. "We intend to pursue a charter school to continue providing quality education for our students and our children," — Raymond Groat, Sandy Save Spalding Drive Elementary Committee. "Fulton County has now left a generation of new families with nothing but complete distrust, uncertainty, and concern for our children," — Natasha Crawford.
