(WSB Radio) --  It's the day many DeKalb county residents have been dreading.  The DeKalb County School Board is set to vote tonight to close eight schools in an effort to save money.

Among those are six elementary : Atherton, Glen Haven, Gresham Park, Peachcrest, Medlock and Sky Haven.  Also on the list are Avondale Middle School and Avondale High School, although part of the high school will remain open as the DeKalb School of the Arts.

Ralph Parrish, father of WSB's Sandra Parrish, was the first principal of Atherton Elementary when it opened in 1964. He stayed there until his retirement in 1981. He says it was built with community in mind, nestled in a neighborhood with several hundred homes off Glenwood Road.

"I'm very sorry to hear that it will be closed," he says.  "I can remember well when it was first opened... we had a good bunch of parents and I enjoyed my tenure there."

But like other parts of southwest DeKalb County, the area has been hard hit by foreclosures and has become a high rental area with transient families.  As a result, the population at the school has declined.

"It was a fine school, and I'm sure it's still is a fine school," he says. "But as time moves on, I can see why it might be necessary to close."

Two other nearby elementary schools, Peachcrest and Glen Haven, are also on the closure list.

DeKalb school officials say the closure of all eight schools will result in the savings of $12.4 million the first year.  A total 9,000 students will be redistricted.