I am writing this note in response to the article dated Friday, Jan. 14, 2000.

This article is the second or third that I have read that simply regurgitates the company line put out by the school board. That line is that they are attempting to alter the racial make-up of the schools to reflect that of the county (paragraph 1).

However there are many holes in this that no one has tried to fill. Let me lay out a few of the questions that are begging to be asked:

1. If they are trying to make schools look like the county, not individual communities, why are only seven of the 15 elementary schools impacted?

Is this to say that the other eight elementary schools have already reached racial “leveling” and have their 70-30 balance? This is an easy question to have answered.

2. Why now? This was attempted last year (White Oak) and met with such resistance that it was tabled. But now it comes up again. And worse, a new school will open for the 2001-02 school year.

When the new school opens, the districts will have to be redrawn again. This could mean that some families could actually have a child in four (or five) schools in a five-year period while living in the same house!

3. In addition to the strange timing and questionable statistics is the question of logistics: This plan seems to have been drawn up with little to no regard for the movement and thus safety of children.

Take a look at the maps and tell me how the county is going to safely and efficiently move the number of kids affected. What's worse, problems already exist with young children being at bus stops before 7 a.m. This can only get worse.

Finally, here is the question that is begging to be asked. I'm afraid that there just isn't anyone willing to ask the question: How much and what kind of pressure has Peachtree City Development Corp (PCDC - Summer Grove) had on these decisions. It is generally believed by most in the county (one story has it that a board member has stated this) that redistricting is directly related to the fact that Summer Grove sales are not what was expected, due to the school district.

I believe that someone who is willing to ask the tough question about PCDC's influence will be rewarded with a story (series of stories) that point to possible ethical if not legal problems with what the school board is trying to do.

Note that I am not accusing anyone. However, the convergence of events cry out for investigation.

Back to question number one. I believe that the race question was brought into this simply as a smoke screen. By doing this, the county can then label anyone who disagrees with this plan a racist. The issue is ready-made for sound bites for media outlets of the one or two people who might say something truly hateful.

Then the board can duck under the smoke screen that they have created.

Danny Evans
Sharpsburg

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