Redistricting Plan Concerns Dozens of Parents

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Dozens of concerned parents filled the auditorium at the Gwinnett County School District tonight with their objections to a new redistricting plan.

Brandon Hart, a parent with children at Sugar Hill Elementary, said it was almost like a fairy tale in referring to his choice of a home in the area where he wanted his children to go to school.

The district said the redistricting is necessary to accommodate an explosive student population growth of eleven thousand students in the last three years.

John Morris said he does not want to disrupt his children's lives. They both attend Sugar Hill Elementary.

He was among many parents who came to the podium with similar concerns about the redistricting plan. The district said it affects 31 schools and 6,800 students in mostly elementary and middle schools.

The plan involves seven clusters, Sugar Hill, Lanier, Meadowcreek, Mill Creek, Mountain View, Norcross and Parkview.

Mark Alexander said he moved to Gwinnett County three years ago specifically for the school his kids are going to and is now concerned his property values could go down if his home is connected to another school.

The district said it's necessary to move so many children to different schools in part because of the domino effect of setting up new attendance zones for two new schools under construction and to relieve over crowding.

Gwinnett County Public Schools is the largest school district in the state with more than 176,000 students.

Parents will also be allowed to speak at the next school board meeting in two weeks where the board is expected to make a final decision.

For more information, go to: publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public