The future of a Fulton County elementary school hangs in the balance as two public hearings have been set to discuss the potential closure of S.L. Lewis Elementary School, giving parents, students, and community members a chance to weigh in on the matter. The Fulton County Board of Education is looking to gather community input before deciding whether to shutter the school at the end of the current academic year and transition students to Mary M. Bethune Elementary School; this was detailed in an announcement covered by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Public hearings are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 8 and Feb. 20, at the Fulton County Schools’ South Learning Center in Union City, giving those with stakes in the school's future plenty of opportunities to voice their concerns before the school's fate is sealed, this according to an article on the official Fulton County Schools website.
Underpinning these potential changes is the one-penny sales tax for education or ESPLOST, which promises the construction of a new facility on the current site. However, the existing building must be decommissioned and demolished for this to happen. In a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, it was mentioned that the proposed new school is expected to open in August 2026, signifying a long-term vision for the county's educational infrastructure.
Both Fulton County and FOX 5 Atlanta emphasized the importance of community feedback in this process, underscoring that all interested parties are encouraged to attend the televised hearings, and for those who cannot, written comments are accepted when mailed to Fulton County Schools' Superintendent's Office with "School Closures" clearly marked on the envelope, these precautions ensure that community voices reach the ears of those making the pivotal decisions about the school's future.
