Recently, Mr. Sumit Rayaguru submitted a letter to the editor expressing concern about the school zoning of the Everton Villages, Towns and Creekside. He argues a change in zoning from FlatRock/ Sandy Creek to Booth/ McIntosh would “—benefit students, ensure fair taxation, strengthen social cohesion, and optimize school planning.
Unfortunately, based on his letter, Mr. Rayaguru’s argument is based on false facts and incorrect assumptions.
First, he cites the difference between the city tax rates for Peachtree City and Tyrone. However, there is no such thing as Peachtree City Schools but only excellent and quality Fayette County Schools. Mr. Rayaguru’s property as well as all other property in Fayette County is subject to a school tax millage of 19.6 for the current year. Fayette School Board says it will raise school taxes nearly 10% – The Citizen
Next, he assumes that there was no long-term planning involved as he says, “the rezoning issue should have been addressed when Everton was first developed….” Although the name “Everton” was unknown at the time, the land at the end of paved MacDuff was first addressed when the land was annexed into Peachtree City. At that time taxpayers were told that any houses built on the land would be zoned Flat Rock/ Sandy Creek by the builder(s) as part of the deal that allowed for the annexation in return for the completion of MacDuff Parkway to Senoia Road, including the bridge over the railroad.
Next, in 2011-2012 this property was again addressed as part of the system wide redistricting that closed four schools at the time. The final map (“A/B”) specifically zoned the properties in the annexed parcel to Flat Rock/ Sandy Creek. This was done before any asphalt was placed in the continuation of MacDuff and way before a stick of lumber went up in Everton.
Mr. Rayaguru states that “significant population density changes” necessitate a rezoning/ As we discussed above, the“density” that the development later to be known as Everton would bring is the exact reason the FCBOE zoned this property to Flat Rock/ Sandy Creek. Last May, I drove down past the Everton neighborhoods and was stunned on how many high school graduates they already had. These neighborhoods are not growing into the high schools but are already here,
Mr. Rayaguru argues that current numbers reflect that there are open seats in the schools he desires, but fails to recognize that one factor Fayette County has used for its excellent and quality schools to be the success they are is not filling schools but rather using an unofficial target of ninety percent of official state capacity. The numbers he cites are a snapshot in time.
Further he fails to realize that the schools are not like an airplane that any seat near departure can be filled, but rather like a sports stadium where a ticket holder may not come or sit it their seat,but the team cannot fill the seat. For example, my son Jackson went to Peachtree City Elementary School then to Trinity Christian for 6 – 12. We lived just south on Mac Duff in Centennial which IS zoned to Booth/McIntosh.
FCBOE could not ignore the fact that at any time and for any reason we could enroll our son in the school he is zoned for. Now realize the Fayette students go to not only Trinity, but Landmark Christian, Central Christian, the Campus, the Foundry, the Heritage School, the Joseph Sam’s School, and other institutions. Then there are homeschool students. All of whom can claim a place at the
Last, it is ironic that we sold our home in Centennial almost exactly a year ago. When we priced it, we were aware that there was new construction just north on MacDuff in Everton, I was concerned that people may choose new construction over a twenty-year-old house. Instead, we had a full price offer for over $100,000 more then the new construction with fourbedrooms/three bathrooms in Everton less than a mile away. The major difference was school zoning,
To be fair, many parents will do what it takes to get their children into the schools they desire. The people who bought our house were renting in the Booth / McIntosh attendance zone until they found a home in that zone. They have children who go to both Booth and McIntosh.
The good news for Mr. Rayaguru and his supporters is that Fayette County has five great high schools. My wife retired from Sandy Creek after twelve years there with ten at McIntosh. One of her students at Sandy Creek invented a way to develop plastic from Avocados. There are good students all acrossFayette.
I cannot speak for Mr. Rayaguru and his thought process when he bought his home, but he got what he paid for. A great new house in a wonderful city with great public schools.
