The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This year, education cuts have been bone-deep; and school officials warn there is no end in sight.
School boards and parents expected to deal with deficits. But as the budget season progressed, property values continued to fall. Metro area school officials revised their spending plans downward more than half a billion dollars, and the blade sank closer to home.
After fighting budget cuts this year, many parents say they are just beginning to make their voices heard.
In Fulton County, a parent group raised $8,000 to try to save the elementary school band and orchestra program. In Clayton, they protested a plan to end bus transportation to charter school. And in DeKalb, they turned back a threat to close neighborhood elementary schools.
"This is probably the first organized fight I've had with the board, but that's how important this is to me," said Deidra Williams of Jonesboro.
Even though her children weren't affected, the 43-year-old mother of three regularly attended Clayton County board meetings to argue against cutting bus service to charter schools in the district.
"I feel strongly that they needed to continue bus service because not everyone has the luxury of taking their kids to school," said Williams, who also sent e-mails to board members. "It really felt good getting involved in such a big way."
She intends to continue her efforts, even though Clayton officials still plan to reduce the bus service to charter schools. Williams is most proud, perhaps, of her daughter, Aris Williams, who spoke in English and Spanish at a recent board meeting on behalf of f