ATLANTA – State Representative Beth Beskin (R-Atlanta) today commented on the proposed annexation of Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) into the City of Atlanta that would exclude the properties from the Atlanta Independent School System (APS). In a formal letter to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Atlanta City Council members, Rep. Beskin urged members to revise the Emory University and CDC annexation ordinances to provide that the annexed parcels be included in APS.
“The law is well-settled that territory annexed into a municipality that has an independent school system becomes a part of the independent school system,” said Rep. Beskin. “This law applies throughout the state of Georgia to every municipality that has an independent school system, and it is unprecedented for the City of Atlanta to endeavor to annex territory to Atlanta without concurrently enlarging the boundaries of APS to include that territory.”
Emory University and the CDC filed petitions to annex into the City of Atlanta on June 27, 2017. The Emory University and CDC annexation ordinance contains a clause providing that the Atlanta City Council and the Mayor have determined that the annexation of these properties into Atlanta city limits, but not expanding the boundaries of the APS, would be in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Atlanta and property owners.
“It would be extremely detrimental to the City of Atlanta for some of its citizens to not be zoned for APS,” said Rep. Beskin. “One essential aspect of Atlanta is that every Atlantan is zoned for, and pays taxes to support, Atlanta Public Schools. It would create dissension and division among Atlanta citizens for certain areas of Atlanta to be excepted from the rights, benefits and obligations of inclusion in the Atlanta Public School system.”
“I understand the desires of Emory, the CDC and the associated petitioners to join Atlanta and certainly agree they will be a jewel in Atlanta’s crown; however, it makes no sense for those entities to not want to participate in, support and be a part of Atlanta Public Schools,” added Rep. Beskin.
Representative Beth Beskin represents the citizens of District 54, which includes a portion of Fulton County, all within the City of Atlanta. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2014, and currently serves on the Education, Judiciary, MARTOC, Regulated Industries, and State Planning & Community Affairs committees. She is also a member of the Medical Cannabis working group.
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