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