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EDUCATION
An online petition aimed at DeKalb County School District officials outlines improvements needed to Cedar Grove High School’s infrastructure. Photos by R. Scott Belzer
Cedar Grove parents petition school board
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
A group of DeKalb County
parents is seeking to have
their voices heard by the
superintendent and school
board.
More than 130 individuals
under the username “Cedar Grove
Parents” have come together via
change.org to petition for a new or
better version of Cedar Grove High
School. The petition lists violations
of Georgia’s Accessibility Code,
infrastructure failure, building age
and mold as the main reasons for
the petition.
The petition, which has
garnered more than 1,000
signatures but targeting is 1,500,
is directed toward Superintendent
Stephen Green as well as
DeKalb County board of education
members Melvin Johnson, James
McMahan, Stan Jester, Marshall
Orson, Michael Erwin, Vickie
Turner and Joyce Morley.
Many of the concerns raised
by parents had to do with the
DeKalb high school’s age. Cedar
Grove, located in Ellenwood, was
originally opened in 1972, making
it approximately 44 years old.
“The building has never
been renovated in the last four
decades,” the petition reads.
“The school system should care
about the physical and structural
appearance of the school. Other
high schools close by (Columbia
High School and McNair High
School) have been renovated but
no one seems to care about our
school.”
The petition’s first concern
deals with Cedar Grove High
School not being in compliance
with the Georgia Accessibility
Code.
“There are handicapped
students in the school and
the building does not meet
requirements,” reads the petition.
“In the event of an emergency,
handicap students cannot easily
and quickly get out of the building.”
According to the state
Accessibility Code, which
references the 2010 Americans
with Disabilities Act Standards
for Accessible Design of
1990, requires state and local
government facilities to be “readily
accessible to and usable by
individuals with disabilities.”
The DeKalb County School
District’s Special Purpose Local
Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST),
which is primarily used for capital
improvements to schools, has
“Americans With Disabilities
Improvements” scheduled for
January 2019.
No past or upcoming
E-SPLOST projects, ranging
from 2013 to 2019, list Cedar
Grove High School specifically.
According to the district’s website,
Cedar Grove joined other schools
throughout the county in receiving
updated wireless, telecom 21st
Century Classroom, computer and
digital content distribution systems.
According to the petition,
however, it’s the overall building
that needs an update, namely
in the realms of infrastructure,
aesthetics and health.
“The structure of the building
is visibly decaying,” the petition
reads. “There are cement steps
that are broken and falling apart,
which is unsafe and a hazard for
our children to maneuver each
day.”
Other infrastructure concerns
include “non-existent” lighting on
practice and playing fields as well as
parking lots “so busted up, it is easy
to get a flat tire or knock out your car
alignment due to huge pot holes.”
The petition also mentions ineffective
security cameras due to age.
The petition goes on to say
the landscaping is not properly
maintained, the doors are rusty
and the overall look of the
building is “severely outdated
and unattractive.” In addition,
the “DeKalb County sign on the
building is falling apart.”
The Cedar Grove petition also
lists “mold and black patches”
throughout the school “which
regularly triggers allergies among
the students” as reason for student
health concerns. The school also
allegedly has “various holes” which
rats regularly use to enter and exit
the school.
“[This], given the dangerous
nature of rats, puts our children
at risk for disease and potential
bites,” the petition reads.
Cedar Grove Parents conclude
the document by saying the school
has succeeded academically and
athletically despite such conditions,
but questions how the environment
effects students.
“How are students supposed
to be excited about learning when
the building is falling apart?” the
petition reads. “Where is the
money that we were told was
spent on these renovations?
Our students should not have to
feel undervalued because the
previous school system officials
mismanaged funds that should
have renovated the school years
ago.
Cedar Grove High School is
located at 2360 River Road in
Ellenwood. For more information
about the school, visit www.
cedargrovehs. dekalb. k12.ga. us.