Grady Cluster Parent Group Rejects Grade Six Academy at Coan

The following statement was posted on the Grady Cluster Voices website on Sunday, March 11. The parent group is responsible for the originally anonymous that surfaced in early February.

We, the undersigned, having signed on to the original Voices for a Renewed Grady Cluster petition, have come together in an attempt to offer feedback and propose constructive revisions to the middle school solutions proposed by Superintendent Davis in his March 2, 2012, recommendations for a renewed Grady Cluster.

We say YES and voice our strong support for:

• Clusters as a solution for APS management and planning, and as a means of strengthening community support and involvement;
• A cluster-wide solution for addressing overcrowding at Inman Middle School by adding capacity at the sixth grade level (“Sixth Grade Annex”); and
• The inclusion of Hope-Hill as a full partner in the Grady Cluster, as evidenced by its inclusion at .

We say NO and firmly reject the use of the former Coan Middle School facility as either a temporary or a permanent location for the Sixth Grade Annex for the following reasons:

• The former Coan Middle School facility is located outside the geographic footprint of the Grady Cluster, detracting from cluster unity; and
• Locating the Sixth Grade Annex in the former Coan Middle School facility will increase tension between the Grady Cluster and our neighbors and friends in the Jackson Cluster.

We respectfully request that Superintendent Davis and the Atlanta BOE consider the following
immediate solutions to overcrowding at Inman Middle School:

• Approve Centennial Place Elementary School’s request to operate as a K-8 as soon as possible, a solution which may alleviate the need for a temporary Sixth Grade Annex location; and
• Evaluate whether the population remaining at Inman after this approval of K-8 at Centennial Place can be managed effectively through the addition of temporary trailers on the Inman campus; or
• If these first two options prove unfeasible, repurpose the former Cook Elementary School facility as a temporary location for the Sixth Grade Annex for a period of one to three years to allow time for the creation of a permanent facility.

As a permanent solution to the Inman Middle School overcrowding, we respectfully propose investing in a new or revitalized facility located within the Grady Cluster to add middle school capacity. Possible permanent solutions include:

• Renovation of an existing, vacant APS property, such as either the former Howard High School or former Walden Middle School properties; or
• Construction of a permanent addition to the Inman Middle School campus; or
• Construction of a new facility located within the Grady Cluster.

If you agree with the above points, please feel free to use them in your communications with the Board and Superintendent Davis. We also encourage you to attend the Superintendent’s forum on Wednesday, March 21st at MH Jackson High School, from 6:30 to 8 pm.

For more information, or to add your support or comments, please visit www.gradyclustervoices.org.

Sincerely,

Michelle Constantinides – parent of MES 1st and 4th graders and a preschooler
Heather Hallett – parent of Spark 1st grader and two preschoolers
Tamara Jones – parent of Mary Lin 3rd and 4th graders and a preschooler
Janet Kishbaugh – parent of Grady 9th grader and Inman 7th grader, former MES parent (now zoned to SPARK)
Anne and Mike McGlamry – parents of a Grady 12th grader and former MES, Inman, and Grady students
Dara Steele-Belkin – parent of MES 1st and 2nd graders and a preschooler
Carolyn Wood – parent of Inman 8th grader and former MES, Inman, and Grady students

The above-listed individuals have signed this document only in their individual capacities, and not as representatives of any organizations with which they may be involved.

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