The Dunwoody Homeowners Association believes that the DeKalb County School District should address both sides of the capacity challenge facing Dunwoody schools: under-enrollment at the elementary level and overcrowding at the high school level.
Our schools are more than buildings; they are an essential part of the fabric of our community. Because of this, we believe Dunwoody students should be served in Dunwoody schools. They are places where children grow up together, families build lasting relationships, and generations of residents develop a shared sense of belonging and connection to the community they call home.
Based on current and projected enrollment, closing an elementary school may be unavoidable. While the DHA does not take the prospect of closing any school lightly, we believe that if a closure is necessary, the district should make that decision thoughtfully and transparently. The evaluation should consider facility condition, geographic proximity within the Dunwoody cluster, enrollment and future capacity, and potential future uses of the property and facility.
We also believe teachers should be able to teach, and students should be able to learn in facilities that are safe, healthy, and properly maintained. Schools should have functioning HVAC systems, roofs that do not leak, and environments free from mold and other facility deficiencies that interfere with teaching and learning.
To accomplish this, the district must be transparent about its capital improvement priorities. The district should consider capacity planning and capital improvement planning together, so it is not simultaneously maintaining underutilized and inadequate facilities while students and teachers could learn/teach in better ones.
The DHA supports a thoughtful, data-driven approach that recognizes the difficult realities of enrollment while keeping the fundamental goal in focus: safe, well-maintained schools that provide every Dunwoody student with an equitable and exceptional educational experience.