Vanderlyn proposed to be converted into Dunwoody High School annex in new SAP plan

DeKalb County School District officials revealed a revised plan for its sweeping Student Assignment Program (SAP), further solidifying the probability that one of DeKalb’s high-achieving elementary schools will cease to exist.

The second iteration of the plan, revealed at a media briefing by DCSD consultant Tracy Richter of HPM on March 20, now shows that Vanderlyn, at first slated for closure, may be turned into an annex or a ninth grade academy for Dunwoody High School.

“Students would likely need to split between Austin, Dunwoody, and Kingsley in the short term,” the narrative said.

A spokesperson for an ad-hoc committee formed to advocate for Vanderlyn to stay open called the proposal “very disappointing.”

“It’s hard to understand how the expansion of Dunwoody High School is being prioritized over a high-performing, established elementary school like Vanderlyn that so many families rely on,” David Lubin said. “It’s also confusing that facility age was cited as part of the decision-making, when the district’s own assessment indicates Vanderlyn primarily needs routine updates like fixtures rather than any major infrastructure or mechanical upgrades. It raises concerns about whether this outcome was predetermined rather than driven by the data presented to the community.”

The group has been circulating a survey regarding what parents would do if Vanderlyn shut its doors. Many parents say they would leave the district, either by moving or enrolling their children in private or charter schools.

After the meeting, Richter said the proposed plan to convert Vanderlyn to a facility that supports DHS was that of “utilization for an overtaxed Dunwoody High School.”

“This is an opportunity to invest in the [DHS] campus by adding capacity,” Richter said.

The report projects that Dunwoody, which is already over capacity by about 500 students, will have a population of more than 2,000 students in 2030, compared to today’s enrollment of about 1,900.

Kingsley, Ashford Park proposed closures

Kingsley is also slated for closure as projections indicate that the school’s population in 2030 would hover around 392, coupled with the fact that the facility is in poor condition, the report said.

However, its closure would be dependent on an expansion at Chesnut Elementary, one of the schools that the SAP report indicated had enough acreage to increase its capacity. Another elementary school in the northern part of the county, Hightower, is also slated for expansion.

Ashford Park Elementary in Brookhaven is still slated for closure in the refined plan, but eventually could be converted to an Early Learning Center, with a codicil in the short term.

“Once Dresden opens in the fall of 2027, convert Ashford Park to a K-3 campus, students would attend Montgomery/Nancy Creek/Huntley Hills for grades 4-5,” the report said. “Long-term: Use for Early Learning Center or swing space.”

‘Doing nothing is no longer an option’

Before the second round of scenarios were revealed, DeKalb Interim Superintendent Norman C. Sauce made several general remarks about the process, saying that the system can not afford to be stagnant.

“About 15 years ago, the district made difficult decisions, including closing several schools,” he said. “Schools are deeply connected to the identity of a community – their legacy, their heritage, their traditions, their memories, their generational connectivity. But schools can also lead to reinvestment and innovation, including a school like Barack Obama Magnet School of Technology.”

Sauce said the magnet school was created after consolidating four smaller elementary schools.

Richter outlined the main concerns aired by the 9,000 people responding to the first version of the SAP plan, as well as feedback heard at community meetings after the preliminary plan was released.

Those concerns included the assertions that a well-utilized small school that is high performing should be left alone, that the plan should include more details with possible destination schools identified, and that high-performing schools should be prioritized for expansion rather than closure.

He emphasized that final decisions will take into account a variety of factors, not just data.

The future of our schools should not be shaped by numbers alone,” Richter said. “Our children are not signs. They’re not data points. They’re not numerals on the spreadsheet. They represent real, live experiences and their families, too. The future should be shaped by the voices of the communities that we serve.”

A series of in-person meetings, divided by cluster areas, will be held in the next few weeks. Dunwoody High School will be the site for the Chamblee, Cross Keys, and Dunwoody clusters on March 26 at 6 p.m. Virtual meetings will also be held during the week of March 23-27.

The post Vanderlyn proposed to be converted into Dunwoody High School annex in new SAP plan appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.