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Sandy Springs, GA - Neighbors Take Down Signs Opposing Jewish School Expansion |
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Sandy Springs, GA - Homeowners in a Sandy Springs neighborhood surrounding the private Epstein School have voluntarily taken down signs protesting the school’s proposed expansion, an attempt to ease tension on the debate.
Ann Feldman, president of the Mountaire Springs Neighborhood Association, said the move was intended to show goodwill.
More than 100 of the small signs – reading “Epstein Expansion” with a slash mark through it – have occupied front yards for several months.
The signs made a strong statement of opposition, but one that might have been misinterpreted by some of the young students at Epstein, a Jewish school for students in elementary and middle grades.
Stan Beiner, Head of School, said students returning to classes this month thought the signs were directed at them.
In an interview, Beiner said students have asked him: “Do people hate us?”
Beiner called it “an unintended consequence” of the conflict over the expansion plans, but one that was having an impact on the children.
The proposed expansion would allow the school to grow to 850 students, from 650, and would include a theater, an early childhood education building and expanded on-campus parking. If approved, the campus would expand by four acres, to 15 acres, through the razing of several homes on an adjacent street.
Feldman, who represents a neighborhood that is mostly opposed to the expansion, said the words for the signs were chosen carefully. The message protests the expansion, not the existing school.
But she and others agreed to take them down, after that suggestion was made by a member of the city’s Planning Commission meeting.
“If it in any way is contributing to bad feelings in the neighborhood, then let’s bring them down,” Feldman said.
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Read Comments (4) — Post Yours »
1
Aug 29, 2008 at 01:54 PM Don Says:
The neighbors did the right thing by taking down the signs.
I wouldn't be too happy to have a school next door go from 4 to 15 acres - its a lot of construction and later traffic and noise.
2
Aug 29, 2008 at 02:39 PM Anonymous Says:
Don Said
The neighbors did the right thing by taking down the signs.
I wouldn't be too happy to have a school next door go from 4 to 15 acres - its a lot of construction and later traffic and noise.
Well, I would rather be next to a school on 15 acres that has a real campus than a school in Brooklyn that is mid block, loads students on the street and has parents double parking and worse.
If we followed this reasoning there could never be a new school, Schools could not be built nor expanded. There have already been rulings banning Yeshivas from situating in shopping or light industrial area.
3
Aug 29, 2008 at 02:46 PM ben Says:
Don please read
its adding 4 acres to make a total of 15 not as u say from 4 to 15
4
Aug 29, 2008 at 02:53 PM knowledgable Says:
it increased BY 4 acres to 15, meaning it was 11 and is projected to be 15.