Elementary redistricting kicks off with frustrated community
Sandy Springers concerned decision has been rushed
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A stone’s throw north of I-285, some 400 Sandy Springs community members gathered off Raider Drive Oct. 7 to fight the closure of Spalding Drive Elementary School.
Three new potential attendance zone maps for the Sandy Springs region will be unveiled to the community at the second public meeting Nov. 4 based off feedback received during the first round of input.
When Fulton County Schools makes a recommendation to close an existing facility, it triggers a redistricting of all the region’s schools.
District staff announced a recommendation to close Spalding Drive Elementary in Sandy Springs during a Sept. 10 Board of Education work session, as well as shuttering Parklane Elementary in East Point.
If Spalding Drive were to close, the redistricting process in Sandy Springs would encompass the city’s seven elementary schools feeding into Riverwood or North Springs High schools.
Parents say they believe the decision was made hastily and without warning, and some are demanding more time to save their school and prevent 349 students from starting the 2025-26 school year somewhere else.
The school district’s logo includes the slogan, “where students come first,” but some parents at the first public meeting for redistricting are skeptical of that reality.
What do you think?
Appen Media will continue to follow the story. If you’re a parent, school official or staff, email your input and questions to hayden@appenmedia.com. See SCHOOLS, Page 20
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
The Sandy Springs community listens and takes notes during the first public meeting for redistricting of the city’s elementary schools Oct. 7 at Riverwood High School. Fulton County Schools staff estimated around 400 people attended the meeting, which became tense after presentations concluded.
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Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm, re-imagining how bath & kitchen remodels are done. Complete Remodeling Design and Installation Services. We even remove walls! Guiding you through the whole design process. Ask about our 3D Renderings. Making bath & kitchen remodeling fun, easy and affordable.
1939 – 2024
Businesswoman Jenny Pruitt was ‘a leader worth following’
By DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Jenny Sanford Pruitt made her mark as a local business leader and mentor to others during her five decades as a Realtor.
She founded two real estate firms involved with billions of dollars of deals and guided countless young professionals. Her success in a male-dominated industry made an impression on the women who followed her lead.
“It was really amazing to work with someone in the business world. One of the first female business owners in real estate in Atlanta was Jenny Pruitt,” Realtor and Pruitt protégé Jennifer Pino said. “She broke all kinds of glass ceilings in Atlanta.”
Pruitt passed away on Sept. 27, at age 85, following a lengthy battle with cancer.
She founded Jenny Pruitt and Associates in 1988, which she sold to a company owned by Warren Buffett. In 2007, she founded Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Buffett sued her, but the lawsuit was eventually dismissed, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
“She won. She was just a badass,” Atlanta Fine Homes Realtor Christine Croce said. “She’s still an inspiration to me, even though I never really got to know her oneon-one.”
Pruitt’s colleagues said she made friends quickly and gained a reputation for putting people first, while maintaining her status as a formidable businesswoman.
“She had never met a stranger,” Realtor and colleague Kay Quigley said. “She was probably the best dinner companion you could get, and she was also a great speaker.”
Quigley worked with Pruitt for 18 years and considered her a personal and profes-
sional mentor. She was a shrewd negotiator and a fair, if stern, entrepreneur. Quigley noted Pruitt could answer questions effortlessly after she’d finished making a speech.
“It was like he had rehearsed to reply to the crowd,” Quigley said.
“She was very polished.”
Pruitt was known as a woman of steadfast Christian faith. It guided everything she did, Pino said. She began working for Pruitt at Atlanta Fine Homes in 2011.
“She was a very bold leader with incredible faith and she really epitomized the phrase, ‘servant leader.’ That was written about Jenny. She could’ve coined that phrase,” Pino said. “Everything that she did was about serving others, even when it came to her mentoring our management team. She would say, ‘Focus on supporting the agents and the bottom line will come.’”
Pruitt would send inspirational emails weekly to her friends and colleagues. Pino said she kept the emails and turned to them when she struggled.
“She showed it was possible to be in the workplace, and be a part of the business community and live out your faith, boldly and out loud,” Pino said.
Pino said she was incredible at selling real estate, but her authenticity made her special.
“That authenticity of caring for people first made her a leader worth following,” Pino said.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21 at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church with a reception afterward.
Nonprofit to host job fair Oct. 18
ROSWELL, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities will host a multi-employer job fair Oct. 18, featuring hiring managers from more than 20 local and national businesses covering a broad range of available positions.
It will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the NFCC Barbara Duffy Center at 11275 Elkins Road in Roswell. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
Employers include Arrow Exterminators, the City of Alpharetta, Docufree Corporation, Emory Healthcare, the Gwinnett County Police Department, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Locum Tenens, MARTA, Morgan
Stanley, Renasant Bank and Wellstar Health System.
There will also be several temporary agencies and executive search firms at the fair.
For those who plan to attend, the nonprofit encourages bringing multiple copies of your resume and to wear professional attire.
Parking at The Barbara Duffy Center is limited. If you cannot find a space at that lot, park in the available lot next door, across the street from the Thrift Shop. For information or to register, visit https://nfcchelp.org/job-fair.
Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm
PRUITT
Flowering community opens shop at Crabapple Market
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Just four days after receiving its certificate of occupancy, Flowerfolk opened its suite doors Oct. 5 at Crabapple Market to thousands of patrons at Milton’s annual arts and antiques festival.
Flowerfolk is not just a neighborhood bouquet shop, it sports garden goods, home décor, baby gifts, plants and natural beauty products.
Kate Austin, owner of Flowerfolk, promises her customers a few things they may not find elsewhere in North Fulton County.
The shop partners with sustainable farmers, seeks out local providers, does not use any foam products or chemicals and strives to match its offerings with each season. It delivers flowers and arrangements to Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell and parts of Johns Creek, Canton and Woodstock.
“There’s an entire movement called the slow flower movement,” Austin said. “It’s locally grown flowers, not only are they rare and heirloom in style, but they’re grown in more of a single-batch style rather than mass produced.”
One of her favorite local partners, Little Flora Farm in Woodstock, is committed to the movement and Flowerfolk’s primary partner.
Austin loves dahlias, and her North Georgia partners make sure she has everyone’s favorites.
If Milton residents are looking for a floral greeting card, tea towel or some seeds to jump start their backyard garden, Flowerfolk has them all.
The shop’s specialties are custom flower creations. It asks customers to tell them which designs speak to them and how long they want it to last. What’s more, patrons have the option to schedule deliveries throughout the year.
Anyone with limited vision would still have no trouble knowing they are in a flower shop after walking into Suite 103 at 12620 Crabapple Road. The aromas throughout the shop hit noses immediately.
Someone with perfect vision may think
they’re in an interior design studio or an antique store, which only complements the room’s flower-focused atmosphere.
Austin, the entrepreneur behind downtown Milton’s new specialty flower shop, is an Atlanta native.
“We moved when I was like three or four years old, so Atlanta is technically home, and I have a lot of family here,” Austin said.
“I went to college in Ohio, and shortly after, my husband and I moved to San Diego, California and we were there for 15 years.”
She said they moved right after the Great Recession hit in the late 2000s, and ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic brought Austin and her family back east.
Austin said she ended up using her college degree in communications and marketing to work for New York Times best-selling author Tony Robbins.
Robbins, internationally known as a life and business strategist, gave Austin the experience and confidence she needed as a young professional far away from home.
Robbins has his detractors, skeptics and controversies, but the millions of people who say he’s changed their lives are a testament to the impact one person can make.
One of those millions is Kate Austin.
“Year after year, I would get thrown these different things in the content space,” she said. “I really got propelled into this fast-paced career traveling the world.”
See FLOWER, Page 7
Part of Chattahoochee rec area to close for hurricane repairs, rehab project
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Parts of the Paces Mill Chattahoochee River recreational area closed Oct. 2 through May because of hurricane relief efforts and a rehabilitation project.
The recreational area is the last area at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to take out canoes, kayaks and other watercraft, according to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
The closure will include the parking lot north of U.S. Highway 41, main boat
ramp and restrooms. Trails in the Palisades unit will remain accessible from the Bob Callan Trailhead and Akers Mill parking lot. The Paces Mill boat ramp south of the highway will remain open.
The closure will allow Hurricane Helene relief efforts and the New Day Palisades rehabilitation project, a $15.8-million design and construction project in partnership with Cumberland Community Improvement District.
About 3 inches of silt deposited by hurricane flooding throughout the area
will require cleaning, Superintendent Ann Honious said. The restrooms will be assessed for damages and repaired. Downed and damaged trees will be removed, and site furnishings will be cleaned and relocated.
“Since the recovery will extend into the planned start of New Day Palisades construction, it makes sense to close Paces Mill at this time,” Honioius said.
The rehabilitation project aims to improve visitor safety and circulation in the new parking lot, upgrade the trail system
and develop new restrooms and visitor information. It also includes a meadow and bioswales to create sustainability along the river. Construction of Phase 1 is scheduled to begin mid-October.
The recreation area was designated as a unit of the National Park System in 1978 and receives about 3 million visitors each year. Its mission is to preserve and protect natural and cultural resources in the 48-mile Chattahoochee River corridor from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Kate Austin, the entrepreneur behind Crabapple Market’s Flowerfolk, works on an arrangement behind the shop’s front desk. Flowerfolk, a name chosen to reflect Austin’s desire to grow a community centered on flowers, opened Oct. 5 during Milton’s annual Crabapple Fest.
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Flower:
Continued from Page 6
Robbins connects with his audiences, and Austin wants to create a community in her new home.
One of Austin’s projects for Robbins was his Business Mastery program, which sparked the desire to have her own entrepreneurial pursuit.
“It’s funny how life works … fast forward to COVID … I grow this garden and am still working for Tony,” Austin said. “My son and I would be in the garden all the time.”
She said she’s always been a flower person after growing up in her grandmother’s garden, but the pandemic allowed her slow down, get intentional and look for wholesome connections.
The mother of three said she reassessed. After a couple visits to North Fulton County, the couple moved across the country. Her kids attend Summit Hill Elementary and Northwestern Middle schools
just a couple blocks north of the shop on Ga. 372.
“It’s been a year of just insane catapulting into your dreams,” Austin said. “When I think back to my childhood, there were flowers everywhere all the time.”
The love for nature is intergenerational in the family.
The pandemic had a silver lining for Austin and her family. While it uprooted American life, the pandemic also brought with some developments in flower technology.
Flowerfolk has coolers for preserving fresh flowers, but also focuses on its dried and silk products, which have only grown in popularity since 2020.
“I think they all serve different purposes and are beautiful,” Austin said.
Starting a new business is no small feat, but Flowerfolk has great partnerships.
The next steps are the rollout of workshops for the community to get a taste of the shop’s expertise.
There are lots of new things that go along with running a flower shop, like buying flowers on mass scale, scheduling
orders almost daily and juggling supply and demand.
“We haven’t had any real challenges in the process, but I think that’s partly following the path and knowing what you’re getting into,” she said. “It’s just taking baby steps every single day.”
Austin said the process of picking out furniture, designing the shop, working with the city of Milton and the building’s owners Orkin and Associates went smoothly.
“I named it Flowerfolk for a reason … [it] is the community,” she said. “That’s what I’m hoping to create.”
How are cities incorporating native plants in landscaping?
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
Community engagement is an essential part of Appen Media’s newsroom strategy.
That’s why reporters for the Herald and Crier newspapers seek out all sorts of reader questions. Sometimes those inquiries don’t lead to standalone stories because of time restraints or, more simply, the answers can be short.
Here are a few questions Appen has received and the answers your reporter has dug up.
What are local governments doing to incorporate native plants in landscapes?
In Alpharetta, city officials are working to bring native plants to public spaces to create natural habitats for animals.
They also work to remove invasive species, said Morgan Rodgers, director of Alpharetta’s Recreation, Parks & Culture Department
Plants native to Georgia have been incorporated in the Alpha Loop’s landscaping design, said Amanda Musilli, community services manager.
In the next couple of weeks, they will be planted for a redesign at the Wills Park Recreation Center. A landscaping redesign at the Alpharetta Adult Activity Center will also receive native plants.
Some of the plants include beautyberry, rabbiteye blueberry, milkweed, mountain
mint, black eyed Susan, southern beardtongue, whorled coreopsis and oak leaf hydrangea.
“They provide food and habitat for our native pollinators and insects and birds,” Musilli said. “If we don’t create the habitat for the lowest part of the food chain, we don't have anything higher up.”
The native plants are visually beautiful
Sandy Springs Veterans Day Tribute to unveil two statues
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The city’s 15th annual Veterans Day Tribute is Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Byers Theatre
The event is free, and all are invited to attend to honor the service and sacrifice of United States veterans.
The city encourages residents and businesses to attend, honor veterans in each service branch, enjoy patriotic music and hear from city leaders, like Mayor Rusty Paul, on the significance of service.
Former Sandy Springs City Manager and retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. John McDonough will serve as keynote speaker for the ceremony.
McDonough was the city’s first city manager, serving from 2006-19.
After the tribute in Byers Theatre, attendees will be escorted across the street to Veterans Park for the dedication of two new art sculptures.
While different in style, the city says the sculptures create an emotional focal
point for the park.
Curtis Pittman’s “Be the Light” is a 33-foot-tall, internally lit structure designed to emulate a flame, symbolizing eternal light. Anchored in three places, visitors can walk under and through the sculpture.
The seven spires representing the seven military branches reflect Pittman’s vision of creating an aspirational tribute to those who serve.
Facing the flame is Atlanta artist Kevin Chambers’ “Three Generations,” a bronze statue depicting a multi-generational family honoring a loved one who made the ultimate sacrifice. The humanity captured in their expressions, filled with hope and reverence, creates a profoundly moving tribute.
Sandy Springs proudly honors the sacrifice and valor of local heroes yearround at Veterans Park.
To purchase a personalized paver or bench for a loved one, visit www.sandyspringsfoundation.org/veterans/.
but also sonically, she said. They attract animals like crickets, frogs and birds, which contribute a natural symphony to local communities.
“It’s essential to our life,” she said. Anyone interested in getting involved with planting or donating local plants is encouraged to reach out to the City of Alpharetta at amusilli@alpharetta.ga.us.
Have a question? Send it to newsroom@appenmedia.com or go to appenmedia.com/ask.
What are the standards for marking bike lanes?
The Georgia Department of Transportation provides guidelines for the marking of bike lanes in the state.
Bike lanes can be indicated with an arrow or cyclist symbol on the far side of the intersection six feet beyond a crosswalk, according to the department. They also can be placed on long uninterrupted sections of roadway based on the judgment of engineers. Lines markings define the boundaries of the lane, which are recommended to be 5 feet wide. The width can increase to 6 feet when adjacent to structures like guardrails.
I haven’t gotten a newspaper in the past several weeks. Will it return? Yes! If you have not received a paper, send an email to the circulation desk at circulation@appenmedia. com with your name and address. Our delivery folks try their best, but with 105,000 copies going out each week it’s a tough task. Let us know if you are having delivery issues and we will take care of it.
City announces fall lineup of community fun
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Cooler weather and changing leaves are bringing Sandy Springers three community gatherings to wrap up the month of October and welcome in autumn.
Fall festivities begin at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Oct. 19 from 12-3 p.m. with the fifth annual “Paws and Pastries,” giving residents and their dogs an afternoon of socializing.
This year, the free dog costume contest will be on the greenspace abutting the park pavilion, due to ongoing improvements to Morgan Falls Dog Park.
All entries must be submitted before 12:30 p.m. with judging beginning at 1 p.m.
The city says the space will be temporarily fenced-in and encourages dog owners to check out park rules.
Pets compete in three categories: small or under 25 pounds; medium or between 25 and 60 pounds; and large or more than 60 pounds.
The costume contest is optional, and spectators are encouraged to attend.
If residents miss the Saturday after -
noon at Morgan Falls, the city’s inaugural “OktoberFEAST” begins on the City Green off Galambos Way at 3 p.m. Oct. 19.
Sandy Springs invites the community to enjoy a Bavarian celebration, including traditional cuisine, live music from German bands, polka lessons and a selection of authentic beers for adults 21 and over.
The free celebration runs from 3-9 p.m. on Oct. 19-20, with food and beverages available for purchase.
October wraps up with the annual “Spooky Springs” event Saturday, Oct. 26 from 5-7 p.m. at Abernathy Greenway Playable Art Park.
The free, family-friendly celebration features trick-or-treating, face painting, live music and offerings from food trucks including Dogs on Wheels, Qn2 BBQ and Three Tikis.
The city says fog machines will enhance the festive atmosphere as families don their favorite costumes to partake in Halloween’s cherished tradition.
For updates on the fall events, check out instagram.com/cityofsandysprings/.
FILE PHOTO/APPEN MEDIA
Alpharetta’s Recreation, Parks & Culture Department is working to bring more native plants to public sites like the Alpha Loop.
Change lives, change the world
Brought to you by – Wesleyan School
Wesleyan School believes faith and intellect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choosing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible education for your child. Our leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, reinforces the value of hard work, and emphasizes character and integrity above accomplishment. Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and provides them with the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them. Wesleyan’s school motto is JOY-Jesus, Others, Yourself, and every aspect of school life is oriented to reinforce this philosophy of putting Jesus first and others ahead of ourselves.
A college preparatory environ -
ment, students have access to a wide range of academic opportunities along with athletics, arts, service and other extracurricular activities. Wesleyan’s 85-acre campus provides state-ofthe-art academic facilities along with on-campus practice space for athletics and arts.
Located just outside of I-285 in Peachtree Corners, Wesleyan enrolled 1,206 students in grades K-12 for the 2023-2024 school year. Wesleyan offers bus routes throughout the metro Atlanta area. Supervised care before school is included in the cost of tuition and after care is available (K-8) until 6 p.m. at an affordable rate.
The Wesleyan School 5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 770-448-7640 https://www.wesleyanschool.org/
Springmont has provided an authentic Montessori education since 1963!
As the oldest Montessori school in the Southeast, Springmont offers students 18 months through middle school an authentic Montessori experience that is extraordinary by design. Individualized learning inspires our diverse population of students to become creative, independent, and globally minded. Classrooms are large, light-filled, and thoughtfully prepared, while the campus’ many natural areas, class gardens, and farm animals afford rich outdoor life science lessons.
Specially designed Montessori materials support children’s developmental needs and offer students a wide variety of hands-on activities that concretely reinforce skills, lessons, and concepts. Highly experienced and caring teachers guide students through an individualized curriculum that develops the whole child—socially, emotionally, and academically. Multi-aged classes allow younger children to learn from older ones and older students to mentor younger classmates.
Art, Music, Physical Education,
Outdoor Science Education, and Spanish are essential parts of the student experience. At Springmont, students are challenged to reach their fullest potential and empowered to help steer their own educations. Children’s innate curiosity grows into a life-long love of learning and a quest for meaningful discoveries and deeper knowledge.
Middle School students run microeconomies and compete in regional academic competitions. Opportunities to hone time-management skills, experience active leadership roles, articulate complex ideas, and work both independently and in diverse groups make our Middle School Program a true capstone experience.
Springmont graduates are confident, collaborative, engaged learners, prepared for success in Atlanta’s premier high schools as well as life beyond academics. Springmont School—Extraordinary by Design.
Applications for the 2025-26 school year are due February 1. For more information, to join a group tour, or to schedule an individualized visit, call 404-2523910 or visit springmont.com
Brought to you by – Springmont School
Providing an exceptional college preparatory program since 1976
Brought to you by –
Saint Francis School
Saint Francis School is a SACS/SAIS accredited, independent, non-profit, nonsectarian college preparatory school founded in 1976. The mission of Saint Francis School is to provide a college preparatory program to students with diverse academic abilities in a structured environment that is challenging and supportive. Kindergarten – 8th grades are located on the 24-acre gated Roswell Campus while the High School is located on the 47-acre gated Alpharetta campus.
The school’s commitment to small class sizes, low pupil-to-teacher ratio, and a strong emphasis on structure and organization allows students to enjoy success in academic areas and develop the self-confidence necessary to be successful in college. Curriculum offerings include AP, Honors, Traditional, and Support classes.
With a 100% acceptance rate to college and with the majority of graduates qualifying for the Hope Scholarship, Saint Francis alumni attend a wide variety of programs ranging from Ivy League schools to small private colleges to prestigious Art Institutes. Saint Francis is a Google Apps for Education Classroom, utilizing laptops in grades 4 – 12. Structured Literacy programs offered include Fundations®, Wilson Reading System®, Just Words®, and supplemental support from Cars® and Stars® Reading Comprehension.
Sports are offered at the middle and high school (GHSA) including football, soccer, baseball, track, swimming, wrestling, softball, volleyball, and equestrian.
For more information call 770.641.8257 Ext. 156 (Grades K – 8) and 678.339.9989 Ext. 33 (Grades 9 – 12) or visit our website: www.saintfrancisschools.com.
Atlanta Academy earns prestigious 2024 National Blue-Ribbon School Award
Brought to you by – Atlanta Academy
Atlanta Academy, a private Preschool-8th grade school in Roswell, GA, has been named a recipient of the 2024 National Blue Ribbon School Award, a recognition that highlights the school’s excellence in education. This achievement is particularly noteworthy, as Atlanta Academy is one of only two private schools in Georgia to receive this year’s prestigious honor.
Founded in 2000, Atlanta Academy serves 395 students from preschool through 8th grade and provides a holistic educational experience. The school’s mission centers around academic excellence, character development, and fostering a nurturing environment where students thrive. Small class sizes and personalized learning approaches enable teachers to understand each student’s strengths and help them unlock their full potential. At Atlanta Academy, education is about more than academic achievement—it’s about shaping well-rounded individuals prepared to succeed.
The heart of Atlanta Academy lies in its strong, supportive community. The school places a high value on collaboration between families, teachers, and students. Parents are actively involved in school life, and this close-knit environment creates a sense of belonging that extends beyond the classroom. This partnership plays a significant role in shaping the school’s success, ensuring that students receive the support they need to thrive, both academically and socially.
Atlanta Academy’s faculty is another significant component of its success. The school takes great pride in its educators, who bring a passion for teaching and a commitment to inspiring young minds. Supported by ongoing professional development, teachers continuously refine their methods to ensure they are providing the best possible education. They are dedicated to fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, preparing students to face the challenges of an everchanging world.
One of the hallmarks of Atlanta Academy is its forward-thinking curriculum. The school’s approach
integrates a variety of subjects, encouraging students to make connections between disciplines and apply their knowledge in real-world situations. Whether through handson science projects, creative arts, or problem-solving in mathematics, students are consistently challenged to think deeply and approach learning with enthusiasm.
Atlanta Academy’s emphasis on small class sizes further enhances its educational model. By carefully observing student performance, teachers tailor their instruction to meet the unique needs of each student. This individualized approach ensures that students receive the attention and resources necessary to thrive, helping them build confidence in their abilities and prepare for future academic success.
The school’s dedication to educating the whole child extends beyond academics. Atlanta Academy fosters a nurturing culture that emphasizes character development, well-being, and happiness. Students are encouraged to practice values such as empathy, resilience, integrity, and honesty, equipping them with the emotional and social skills they will need in high school and beyond.
This commitment to excellence has culminated in the school’s recognition as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School, awarded in the Exemplary High Performing category. This designation is given to schools where students consistently perform at the highest levels in state and national assessments, particularly in reading and mathematics. The award is a testament to the hard work of Atlanta Academy’s students, teachers, and families, reflecting the collective effort that makes the school a standout in Georgia and beyond.
Atlanta Academy is incredibly proud of this achievement and invites families to see what makes the school unique. To schedule a tour and learn more about Atlanta Academy’s programs, visit www.atlantaacademy. com.
Top 10 things you need to know about AIS Sandy Springs
A place where world-class education meets global citizenship
Brought to you by – Atlanta International School Sandy Springs
1. Premier International Baccalaureate World School
We offer the full continuum of the renowned International Baccalaureate (IB):
• Middle Years Program for Grades 9-10.
• Diploma Program and Career-related Program for Grades 11-12
For students on a pre-professional pathway, we offer the AISx flexible academic schedule.
2. Exclusive Tennis Partnership with Mouratoglou Academy Atlanta (MAA)
Tennis loving students can take
advantage of our partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou (legendary coach of Serena Williams.)
3. Day and Boarding Options
• Day: Enjoy school, returning home each day.
• 5- and 7-Day Boarding: Stay in comfortable dormitories, fostering global friendships.
Co-ed boarding for 70 students with:
• On-Site Residential Life Director: Ensuring well-being and
personal growth.
• 24/7 Security and Support: A safe and nurturing environment.
• Campus Amenities: Athletics, innovation, recreational areas.
4. Innovation and STEAM AIS Sandy Springs is at the forefront of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)
• Real-World Projects: Labs and spaces
AIS, Page 15
AIS:
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designed for explorative thinking.
• STEAM Diploma Endorsement: Demonstrating commitment to interdisciplinary learning.
5. Languages and Cultural Diversity
Our community represents over 90 nationalities. We offer over 40 languages, including: Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Korean, Chinese, Spanish.
6. Vibrant Student Life
Education beyond the classroom with clubs, sports, and activities:
• Athletics: Soccer, basketball, volleyball, and elite tennis training through MAA
• Arts and Culture: Theater, music, visual arts, and international festivals.
• Leadership Opportunities: Join the Student Council and community service projects.
7. Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
AIS Sandy Springs reflects our dedication to the environment with:
• Student-Led Initiatives: Recycling, community gardens, and environmental clubs.
• Curriculum Integration: IB education emphasizing sustainability.
8. Pathways to Top Colleges and Universities
Our dedicated college counseling team provides:
• Personalized Planning: Tailored to each student’s goals.
• Test Prep and Application Assistance: Resources and guidance for every step.
• Leveraging Partnerships: Connections with colleges, including athletic programs.
9. Inclusive Community
Our unique, community includes our:
• Parent Organization: Creating belonging and engagement for families.
• Alumni Network: Nearly 2,000 alumni worldwide
• Community Service: Students participate in service, locally and globally.
10. Urban and Natural Attractions
Best of both worlds:
• Serene Setting: 25 acres of woodland
• Proximity to Atlanta: Just 30 minutes away from this vibrant city
• Thriving Local Community: access to shops, restaurants, and entertainment.
Discover how AIS Sandy Springs can be the stepping stone to your child’s bright future.
We believe in each of our students
Brought to you by – The Galloway School
The Galloway School is a community where learning is joyful, individuals are valued, and self-discovery is encouraged. Galloway students confidently embrace challenges while developing the knowledge, skills, and cultural competence to thrive as enlightened contributors in their chosen pathways.
At Galloway, no two classrooms look exactly alike, and no two teachers teach in the same way. Students are trusted to play important roles in the process of learning. We model a growth mindset, where teachers and students are encouraged to be fearless learners.
We use a research-supported approach to educate the whole child. Starting at age 3, we start by designing a safe and welcoming learning environment where students are respected and feel they can be their authentic selves. We know that students cannot learn if they do not
feel a sense of belonging. At Galloway, we generate intentional learning by instilling agency and fostering curiosity and intellectual engagement by providing real-world learning experiences.
We do all of this because we believe in the unrepeatable talent of each of our students.
Sponsored Section October 17, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | 17
The “Dead Hand”
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This is often a topic of debate in estate planning, as overly restrictive conditions can be legally challenged or ignored. The term “dead hand” captures the idea of a deceased individual exerting control over their assets and their heirs long after their death. In the realm of estate planning, this concept is often debated as it involves setting conditions that govern how one’s estate is handled and how heirs should behave. While the intention behind such conditions may be to ensure that the estate is managed in a way that aligns with the deceased’s wishes, these stipulations can sometimes be deemed overly restrictive or impractical. This can lead to legal challenges or outright disregard by heirs, as courts often grapple with the balance between honoring the deceased’s wishes and maintaining reasonable freedom for the living. Ultimately, the concept of the “dead
hand” underscores the complex interplay between legacy, control, and the evolving needs of future generations. This underscores why you need expert attorney to balance your wishes with the need to set certain conditions and restrictions that you feel are necessary for the welfare of your beneficiaries to ensure compliance after your death. We understand you might have numerous questions about Estate Planning, and we address EVERY single one during our live workshops!
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PAST TENSE
Children at Dunwoody School in the early 1940s with their lunch trays. The students in the photograph include Jackie Howington, Jimmy Donaldson, Anne Renfroe, James Ford, Gerry Burrell, and Ken Anderson. To the right is Ola Womack Spruill and in the back of the room is Principal Elizabeth Davis.
School lunch memories from 1938 and 1978
School lunch likely evokes certain memories depending on when and where you attended school. L. C. Orr shared some of his memories with me in 2014. He and his family rented a home where Peachtree Charter Middle School is today. He attended Doraville Elementary School in the 1930s and usually brought a biscuit and piece of ham steak in a metal lunch box. Doraville School was located on Tilly Mill Road near Flowers Road.
In the 1930s, social activist Frances Pauley worked to get a school lunch program in DeKalb County. She held meetings with principals, parents and public health officials. Pauley said, “In the depression, many children didn’t have enough to eat, and I thought if they could just get one real meal a day it would help.”
Dunwoody School began serving hot lunches in 1938. They were the second school in DeKalb County to do so. Principal Elizabeth Davis shared memories of those days with Arden Skrabanek, writer of “The Luncheon Scene,” for the September 7, 1978 Dunwoody Crier.
The 1938 refrigerator and oven were donated to the school by Georgia Power. Trays for carrying the lunches were donated by the Coca-Cola Company. Dishes and cookware came from the army surplus store and the PTA raised the money needed to purchase utensils. The children picked up their trays from the kitchen and took them to eat at their desks in the classroom.
Davis ordered produce, canned goods and meat to be delivered from Burdett’s Grocery in Sandy Springs. Milk was delivered from J. C. Loyd’s Dairy in Chamblee, but some children brought milk from home. Ola Womack Spruill prepared the lunches and is remembered for her graham biscuits and cookies.
Jane Anderson Autry attended Dunwoody School in the 1940s and recalled that families were charged twenty-five cents a week for their child to eat the hot lunch. Another option was to bring in a dozen eggs from home to pay for a week of lunches.
Arden Skranabek also reported on 1978 updates to lunch at Dunwoody Elementary School. Dietician Kay Norvell had recently been hired to oversee the lunch program. Norvell used a suggestion box to receive input from students. Children would be able to get a regular lunch or visit the new salad bar and have bread, milk and dessert on the side. Norvell hoped to introduce more nutritional foods while also serving lunches the children would enjoy.
One thing that remained the same from 1938 to 1978, the hamburger was a popular school lunch item for children. The price of a Dunwoody School lunch in 1978-50 cents.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
ANDERSON FAMILY/SPECIAL
Specific units a potential relief for housing crisis
By KATHY SWAHN, NANCY DIAMOND, JACK MURPHY
North Fulton County, Georgia, is one of the most vibrant areas in the Atlanta metro region, known for its excellent schools, job opportunities, and high quality of life. However, the escalating housing crisis is creating a barrier for recent graduates and young adults, forcing them to seek homes outside of the community. The scarcity of affordable housing, paired with restrictive zoning regulations, is exacerbating this issue. Introducing auxiliary dwelling units (ADUs) could help retain younger generations and provide a more flexible housing market.
Community at a crossroads
Our cities have seen rapid growth in population and development over the past decade, driven by the area’s economic strength and desirable living conditions. But this growth has come at a price: rising home prices and limited affordable housing options. Many families who have lived here for years are now faced with the reality that their children, upon graduating from high school or college, are unable to afford to live nearby.
The median home price in North Fulton is significantly higher than in surrounding areas, pushing young people out of the market. Apartment rents are also rising, and new developments often target higher-income earners. For recent graduates or young professionals just starting their careers, the costs are simply too high, forcing them to relocate to more affordable areas farther from their families, workplaces, and support networks.
This exodus of young people can have a lasting impact on the community. As these young adults leave, they take with them potential contributions to the local economy, culture, and workforce. Moreover, families are fragmented, with parents and grandparents no longer able to enjoy close proximity to their children and grandchildren.
Potential relief
One possible solution to this issue is the development of ADUs, which are smaller, self-contained housing units that exist on the same lot as a larger primary residence. These units, also referred to as in-law suites, granny flats, or carriage houses, and can offer a more affordable housing option for recent graduates or young professionals while staying close to home.
ADUs can take many forms—such as converted garages, basement apartments, or standalone small houses in a backyard. These units could help address the housing crisis by increasing the housing supply without requiring new, large-scale developments. Here’s how they could be part of the solution:
1. Affordability: ADUs are typically more affordable to build and rent than larger homes or new apartment complexes. They offer an opportunity for younger residents to live independently but within their financial means, especially in expensive areas like North Fulton.
2. Multigenerational Living: ADUs allow for multigenerational living, where recent graduates can live near or with their families without crowding the main household. This can help maintain family bonds while providing younger adults with the independence they seek.
3. Efficient Use of Space: In areas where zoning laws restrict high-density housing, ADUs provide a way to increase the housing supply without changing the character of the neighborhood. Many suburban areas in North Fulton have the land available to accommodate ADUs, making them a practical solution.
4. Sustainability: Because ADUs are smaller and often share utilities with the main house, they tend to be more energyefficient and environmentally friendly than building new, large single-family homes or sprawling apartment complexes.
Barriers
While ADUs present an intriguing solution, they are not without their challenges. Zoning laws in North Fulton
Affordable housing continues to be a serious issue across North Metro Atlanta. Groups like the North Fulton Improvement Network are trying to help, and Appen Media is dedicated to covering the process. Send ideas, questions and feedback to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
County can be restrictive, often limiting or prohibiting the construction of ADUs. Many neighborhoods and local governments are resistant to changes that could increase density, citing concerns over parking, traffic, or altering the neighborhood’s character. Additionally, financing and construction costs can still be prohibitive for some homeowners looking to add ADUs to their property.
To make ADUs a viable part of the solution to North Fulton’s housing crisis, local governments would need to consider revising zoning ordinances, providing incentives for homeowners to build ADUs, and developing clear guidelines to address community concerns.
Moving forward
As North Fulton County continues to grow, finding solutions to the housing crisis will be critical to keeping communities intact and vibrant. Auxiliary dwelling units, if properly supported, could offer one way to bridge the gap between high housing costs and the needs of young adults entering the housing market or grandparents wanting to downsize. By allowing our children to live nearby after graduation, ADUs could help maintain family connections, support the local economy, and provide a more sustainable, inclusive community for everyone.
It’s time for North Fulton to explore creative solutions like ADUs to ensure that future generations can continue to call this area home.
Kathy Swahn, Nancy Diamond and Jack Murphy are members of North Fulton Improvement Network. Learn more at www.improvenorthfulton.org.
TALK BACK TO THE CRIER
Thank you all for 51st Home Tour
On behalf of the members of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club (DWC), we extend our heartfelt thanks to the homeowners who graciously opened their stunning residences for our 51st annual Home Tour on October 9. Their generosity and warm hospitality played a crucial role in the success of this major fundraiser. As a token of our appreciation each homeowner was gifted a beautiful painting of their home created by talented local artist Pat Fiorello.
We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors and donors for their unwavering support of this event. A special acknowledgment goes to the Spruill Center for the Arts and Spruill Gallery for their assistance and participation in this year’s Home Tour. We also appreciate the efforts of Mount Vernon Printing, the Dunwoody Crier and the Dunwoody Gallery for their help with this year’s Home Tour. And we thank our raffle donors, Linda Rickles, Lauderhills Fine Jewelry, and Woodhouse Spa for their generous contributions. DWC is grateful to all of our guests who purchased tickets this year. We hope you enjoyed your day at the 51st home tour.
DWC is a service organization of women joining together to expand their skills and apply their abilities. Our members are community leaders whose financial and service contributions have helped shape Dunwoody and the surrounding community. DWC members have helped to forge the strong sense of community enjoyed by all who live in this thriving Atlanta area.
The funds raised from the Home Tour will directly support our local and national charitable programs, allowing us to continue our commitment to service in the community. Thank you all for your continued support and dedication! DWC is proud to have been a driving force behind the formation of Stage Door Theatre, Spruill Center for the Arts and the Dunwoody Nature Center.
With Heartfelt Appreciation, Terry Kemp DWC, Home Tour Chair
Schools:
Continued from Page 1
For one, academic performance is not considered during the process, which some parents said explains the exodus of students to private schools in the area.
Spalding Drive Elementary has the region’s second highest academic achievement. Heards Ferry has higher test scores but a less diverse student population.
Fulton County Schools Chief Operations Officer Noel Maloof, speaking Sept. 18 at Woodland Elementary School, said no decision has been made about the closures.
After a public input process, the closure and potential redistricting decisions will go before the school board in February for a final vote.
Two Fulton County School Board members, Katie Gregory and Michelle Morancie, represent the Sandy Springs region. Both representatives declined to speak with Appen Media about the situation, referring the newspaper to district communications staff.
At a community meeting Oct. 9, Gregory told parents she was in favor of keeping Spalding Drive Elementary School open. “I am for Spalding. I will vote not to close Spalding,” she said.
Committee voices concerns
Fulton County Schools staff must follow the procedure established in 2000 for potential school closures and redistricting, which states that the primary criteria to be considered are proximity and transportation, student capacity and projected enrollment.
In their September recommendation to shutter Spalding Drive Elementary, staff cited declining enrollment and an aging building.
The Sandy Springs region, including all feeders to Riverwood and North Springs high schools, forecasts 207 fewer students this year. That’s on top of a decline of roughly 2.2 percent —mostly among elementary school students — last year.
The 2020 condition assessment said the Spalding Drive Elementary facility was in “fair condition” with a suitability rating just one point shy of “good.”
Parent group Save Spalding Committee argues that the school district’s enrollment projections are questionable because data comes from 2020 census data, which does not capture the COVID-19 pandemic’s baby boom.
Parent group Save Spalding Committee has raised concerns about the school district’s enrollment projections, arguing that because it uses 2020 census data it does not capture the COVID-19 pandemic’s baby boom.
The committee says the school aged population will continue to increase with seniors selling their residential homes and the planned addition of more than 2,000
Background information for the potential closure of Spalding Drive Elementary School and Sandy Springs redistricting:
• Fulton County Schools staff announced their recommendation to close Spalding Drive Elementary in Sandy Spring during a Sept. 10 Board of Education work session. The staff recommendation also suggested shuttering Parklane Elementary in East Point.
• FCS staff said Spalding Drive Elementary has declining enrollment and its building is aging, rendering it “operationally inefficient.” The recommended school closure triggers a redistricting of all Sandy Springs elementary schools through a procedure implemented in 2000.
• After the first round of in-person engagement Oct. 7 at Riverwood High School, the district will analyze feedback and present three new attendance zone maps at the second public meeting Nov. 4.
• Parents of children attending the school formed the Save Spalding
Drive Elementary Committee to rally the community behind the effort. State Rep. Deborah Silcox, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and the City Council has backed the effort and criticized the school district’s recommendation.
• Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and East Point Mayor Deanna Holiday Ingram are working together to save the elementary schools in their communities.
• At the Dec. 9 third and final public meeting, staff will present a draft plan to the community and then develop a final recommendation for the School Board’s consideration Jan. 14, 2025.
• The final action and Board vote will take place during the Feb. 20 FCS School Board meeting.
multi-family in north Sandy Springs.
Parents say the school is attracting more young families to west central Sandy Springs, specifically to attend one of the region’s highest performing public elementary schools.
Parental opposition to the closure and redistricting also includes traffic patterns and safety, previous rezonings of neighborhoods, programs serving special needs children and feeder school alignment.
They also say children leaving the neighborhood to attend schools exacerbates traffic congestion.
Among other solutions, parents are asking the district to include Spalding Drive Elementary in next year’s open enrollment to encourage more students to transfer into the high-performing school.
Parents point to the school’s existing special education programming and the rebuild of North Springs High School, the
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED
A map shows the current attendance zones in the Sandy Springs region of Fulton County Schools with the fall 2024 redistricting process underway. Three new attendance zone maps for local elementary schools will be introduced during the Nov. 4 public meeting at Riverwood High School.
elementary school’s primary feeder, as reasons to consider next year’s proposal for open enrollment.
A separate Pre-K lottery program sports an increase in applicants over the past three years with 34 kids on the in-district waitlist and over 100 on the out-of-district waitlist, according to parent tallies. Three years ago, they say there was no waitlist.
One Spalding Drive Elementary parent, Stephen Guy, said the committee made open records requests for the data that informed the school district’s recommendation. Fulton County Schools told them, according to Guy, they must submit a formal request and would need to wait six to eight weeks for a response.
“For a process that has a 90-day window to make a decision to close a school, instructing the bureaucracy to just ignore the constituents for 60 days is infuriating,” Guy said.
Redistricting kicks off
The community, young and old, broke up into assigned classrooms to answer a series of questions intended to inform the school district’s Jan. 14 recommendation to the Board of Education.
Questions asked the community to consider potential uses for the facility if the school closes; input on the rationale for shuttering the school; which neighborhoods areas should remain together, transportation and traffic concerns and residential development trends.
While some parents took issue with what they called “leading questions” that assumed the school’s closure, the district repeatedly states a decision has not been made.
There were all kinds of Sandy Springs residents in the audience, including parents of local preschoolers and residents whose children went to the school decades ago. Whether their kids are adults or getting ready to enter kindergarten, parents are showing up in support of their neighborhood school.
One small group session featured a Sandy Springs resident who has sent more than 10 foster children through the school and another who is looking to move into the neighborhood.
State Rep. Deborah Silcox and Sandy Springs City Councilwoman Melissa Mular, who have advocated for saving Spalding Drive Elementary, gave some political weight to the kickoff.
Mular said she emailed the school district with questions Sept. 24 and did not receive an acknowledgement or response. She said it’s disappointing how the county is handling the recommendation to close the school, citing a lack of trust between the community and bureaucrats.
“The focus seems to be on redistricting and school closure versus identifying options to keep the school open and working on a win-win solution that meets the goals of both families and FCS,” Mular said. “I know that the residents will continue to work through the process, and I intend to stay engaged to assist as I can.”
The next meeting at Riverwood High School, where staff will present three new attendance zone maps, is Nov. 4 from 6-8 p.m.
Zero sum or something else
RAY APPEN
Publisher Emeritus
Another fall around the corner.
My backyard patch of old growth trees is starting to shed leaves already –turning yellow and preparing for winter.
Summer’s heat is dissipating into coolish temperatures.
The hurricane has come and gone. We got lucky here in Atlanta – at least compared to a number of South Georgia, North Florida, and other Southern cities. The wind didn’t do the damage; the water did. Water is as destructive as any bomb; nothing can withstand the hydraulics of water.
The battle in Ukraine continues as well as does the one just ramping up
in Lebanon. The election race of course continues – as ugly, intrusive, and disruptive as it can be. Who wants to have to deal with the white noise day in and day out?
I feel like a worn-out traveler – a hiker – walking down a trail that is nothing but gaps and summits – and with no knowledge of how far in front I still have to go. It seems like we’ve all been on this trail longer than we can remember and that somehow it is now becoming a reality replacing what we knew before – if we can actually remember “before.’
I didn’t used to think like that. Before, I saw and understood the cyclical nature of life. It didn’t matter how dark the time became, because I knew that it was temporary and that better times were somewhere down the road –around the corner. Just wait for it. But
somehow that has changed. What, why? How?
We do best with order and certainty in our lives. We like to feel that we have control. We crave security, a roof over our heads, food, and order. And of course, love from others. So, what’s up? Where are we going? What does that summit look like? Or will it be a gap instead.
I plan to drive down to my beach place in Florida soon. This past week hurricane Helena was pointed directly at my front door – literally until about 5 hours prior to land fall. It was, we knew, probably going to be a Cat 3 or 4 storm accompanied by a tidal surge that would most likely destroy everything in its path – including my house. Instead, it veered just a few degrees to the East and destroyed other people’s homes and lives instead of mine. It’s difficult to reconcile that scenario. How can one feel relieved
when someone else had to pay?
A zero-sum proposition I guess; someone has to lose for someone else to win. There is something about that idea that seems to me to cut to the chase of life perhaps – zero sum or something else. If you believe the zero-sum scenario, then you don’t think about that other side too much; you just focus on me/mine. I get mine; your get your own. But what does the alternative mean?
In that question lies the rub. It may mean that not accepting the zero-sum enlarges our own world and opens new doors for ourselves and those around us. It may mean that there is a better way out of the chaos and uncertainty that surrounds us all. It may mean that we all count, and we all lose when just one of us suffers. It may mean that we see a sunrise more clearly and feel the warmth in an otherwise chillingly cold world.
In Memoriam
Jo Anne Green Marino
Jo Anne Green Marino (71), a longtime Dunwoody, GA resident, died peacefully October 1 from lung disease with family by her bedside.
A native of High Point, NC, Jo Anne was the first of three sisters born to Grace and Charles Green. Graduating in 1971 from Ledford High School in Thomasville, NC, Jo Anne excelled in her academic pursuit towards a career in athletics, earning a BA in Physical Education from Wake Forest University in 1975, and a master’s in education from Georgia State University in 1979.
Jo Anne was a teacher and basketball coach at Dunwoody High School in 1976, and Stone Mountain High School from 1976-1984. She coached 7th Grade Basketball at the Marist School in Atlanta, also serving as the Assistant to the Athletic Director. From 2002-2018, Jo Anne was the Assistant General Manager of the Suwanee Sports Academy in Suwanee, GA.
Understanding her passion for athleticism, Jo Anne enjoyed all-things sports, including snow skiing, hiking, exercising, and cheering on her home
teams at every level, especially basketball and football. An excellent cook, she was happiest when gathered with friends or family around good food and drink. Jo Anne’s travels took her from the tops of mountains to the sandy beaches she loved. She picked up gardening later in life and was very active in her neighborhood Bible Study.
Jo Anne was an FCA organizer, Treasurer of the Marist Booster Club, and a member of both “Wild Women,” and “Bad Girls” of Wake Forest,” as well as Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
Preceded in death by her father, Charles William Green; Mother in Law, Shirley Mosher Marino; Father in Law, Alfred S. Marino; and Brother in Law, Albert Sink, Jr., Jo Anne is survived by her husband of 46 years, Richard V. Marino; sons Scott and Jeff (Kate) Marino; Mother Grace Beeson Green; sisters Becky Sink and Kathy Cline (Dickie); and Brother In Law Robert Marino (Rhonda).
The family welcomes contributions in Jo Anne’s name to The Next Stop Foundation, 4617 Midlands Green, Flowery Branch, GA 30542 (www.thenextstop.org).
