Atlanta public school closures spark socialist protest

Atlanta’s school board has voted to consolidate 16 schools, amid extravagant objections from a local socialist organization.

Atlanta Public Schools (APS) currently faces a $100 million budget gap and a nearly 20% enrollment decline over the past 25 years. So, on Wednesday the APS school board approved a plan to consolidate or close 16 schools, which could save the district as much as $25 million annually and $65 million in deferred maintenance.

In response, the Atlanta chapter of the Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL) protested the plan, arguing the education crisis has been manufactured by the “billionaire ruling class.”

“Stop the school shutdowns in Atlanta!” PSL wrote Dec. 1 on social media. “The billionaire ruling class wants to privatize education to create even more profits for themselves, which would cut off schooling for millions of children. 

“But if we come together and fight, we can not only save public education, but we can win a just system – a socialist system – where all of our basic needs are guaranteed!” 

PSL, which believes capitalism is the root cause of poverty, poor health care, racism, violence based on gender and sexual orientation, and “environmental destruction,” organized a protest against school closures Dec. 2. 

Some of its other social media posts include calls to “Fully fund public education, not ICE and police!” 

Atlanta isn’t the only major city struggling with budget deficits and low enrollment. Over the past few years, Seattle considered school consolidations because of its $130 million budget deficit. 

In addition: 

• Boston weighed merging or closing nearly half its schools after its enrollment declined 14%. 
• San Francisco considered closing 10% of its buildings, citing the end of COVID-19 funding and increased operating costs. 
• Denver blamed its enrollment problems on low birth rates and a changing housing market.   
• And earlier this year, Pittsburgh revealed its district was at just half capacity – able to serve up to 40,000 students, but with only 20,000 enrolled.