SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. -- With students out for the summer, school districts are putting classroom renovation and expansion plans into full swing. But in one Metro Atlanta community, those plans have homeowners asking for explanations.
Ridgeview Charter School in Sandy Springs is bursting at the seams. It needs more classroom space.
Fulton County Schools put together the plans for modular classrooms, but neighbors say nobody has told them what is going on.
"We have some significant concerns about the lack of communication and transparency in Fulton County schools and the school administration in regards to the implementation of temporary classrooms," said Christine Klein, a homeowner living across the street from the school.
As a result, rumors and misinformation started spreading quickly.
What neighbors want is an exchange of ideas—transparency—and knowing just where the new classrooms will go if the placement will mean cutting down large hardwood trees. Bill Liss and the 11Alive Help Desk set out to set the record straight.
"They are planning to come out and cut down some of these hardwoods trees and put in trailers and temporary classrooms," Klein said she was told.
But Joseph Clements, Fulton County Schools Executive Director of Facilities, said the modular classrooms are of the newest design and will be in a parking lot 65 feet from the street.
"The plan is to install five modular classrooms up at the edge of the parking lot behind us...at the most there might be three of the trees that might go out." Clements said.
Clements assured homeowners that the picnic area and the large hardwoods would not be touched, and that neighbors would be kept in the loop on just what is planned and what is going on.
"We will work to assist the principal and staff to make sure information is provided to the community so they know what is going on," he added.
Keeping everyone informed -- transparency -- it works.
