Support Manning Oaks - The School Left Behind

We, the undersigned residents of The Arbors, the Henderson Village community, Clairmonte, Jayne Ellen Way, Mannings Ridge, Spring Run, Williamsburg, Winthrope Park, collectively support PLAN A of Round 2 in the Birmingham Highway Elementary Attendance Zone Redistricting.

Plan A is the best choice for the following reasons:

1. Instructional capacity is best for all schools in this plan
2. Puzzle piece NF 232 is an essential component to this plan because it is located close to Manning Oaks Elementary and eases the strain on this area caused by the massive losses from the removal of NF9 which was eliminated in all three plans presented.
Gatewood subdivision in NF232 is exactly 1 mile from Manning Oaks and exactly 1 mile from on Cogburn Woods. There are no sidewalks adjoining their neighborhoods with Cogburn Woods, in fact, there is a very dangerous curve with no sidewalks at all. Alternatively, there ARE sidewalks all the way from Coventry and Gatewood (through Henderson Village) to Manning Oaks Elementary. There is even a stoplight with a crosswalk to get across Hwy 9. Walking to Manning Oaks Elementary would be much safer for the students than walking to Cogburn Woods.
It should also be noted that these subdivisions lie in Alpharetta but currently attend a City of Milton school.
3. All puzzle pieces in Plan A for Manning Oaks Elementary are close in geographic proximity to the school with the exception of puzzle piece NF 47. This piece should be reallocated to Hembree Springs Elem because it is closer to that school.
These students would travel through many busy intersections to get to Manning Oaks Elementary.
Removing this piece would also allow both Manning Oaks Elementary and Hembree Springs to better meet instructional capacity as well as allow for future growth.
There are no social ties between Manning Oaks Elementary and this area. We attend separate middle schools and high schools as well.
4. This is the most geographically centric plan

We oppose Plan B for the following reasons:

1. There is overcrowding at both Hembree Springs and Manning Oaks Elementary.
2. The required amount of classrooms is extremely high.
3. Due to the increased percentage of transient housing versus single family homes, special programs would be adversely affected.
5. The percentage of ESOL students and free/reduced lunch would increase
6. The number of TAG students would decrease.
7. This plan would decrease the parental involvement both physically and financially. There would be a smaller amount of "vested" parents.
8. This is the least geographically centric plan
9. There is no room for future growth at Manning Oaks Elementary and Hembree Springs.

If you agree with the above statements, please support our petition to the redistricting committee to approve Plan A for the Fulton County Elementary School Redistricting meeting on December 10, 2008.