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District 3 parents press APS for clarity on safety grants, SRO overtime and Midtown construction plans
Summary
District 3 residents raised detailed concerns about how APS is using school-safety grants, whether schools are being billed for SRO overtime and event custodial costs, and the impact of a Midtown practice-gym construction project on parking, security and instructional budgets.
Community members at the Atlanta Public Schools District 3 meeting pressed district staff for specific answers about safety-grant allocations, security-related charges to schools and a Midtown construction project that families say was announced with little notice.
Tamara asked whether the state-safety grant amount had increased from about $45,000 per school to roughly $60,000 and requested clarity on how the funds are accounted for at the school vs. district level. "If they are upping it this year… I will check into that," Erica said, promising to follow up. District staff (Ken and Travis) agreed to produce a clearer accounting of how safety-grant dollars are distributed across schools and whether such funds are being used to cover overtime for school resource officers (SROs) or placed against district-level security investments.
Dion and other community leaders described examples they said show schools are being charged for event security and janitorial services that previously were school-funded or district-supported. Dion said schools in District 3 are "literally nickel and diming it here," citing school-level budget shortfalls and a $10,000-per-pupil funding gap between some schools. Tamara added an example that some events have required multiple SROs — a cost that can run into the thousands and, she said, sometimes is taken from teacher or program budgets.
Cindy raised a separate budget concern about MA (Magnet) Agnes Jones, which faces a projected reduction in next year’s allocation. Travis explained the principal reason was an enrollment projection decline (about 34 students), which reduces formula-driven funding. "The main cause for the decrease in funding for MA Jones was a projected drop in enrollment," Travis said, and he offered to provide the detailed allocation sheet to the go team.
Parents also asked about the Midtown practice-gym renovation and associated work on bleachers, storage, tennis lights and parking. Attendees said construction could take months (staff estimated a possible November completion) and urged the district to ensure security during construction without charging schools’ instructional budgets. Ken said he would get more information from Facilities and that Travis would circulate specifics.
District staff promised follow-up emails to registered participants with answers on safety-grant accounting, SRO overtime, facility timelines and custodial-contract arrangements.
Ending: Staff committed to follow up with the requested budget and operational details; parents were advised to expect emailed follow-ups and to continue raising questions with their go teams and school leaders.
