June 02, 2008
www.northfulton.com
FORSYTH COUNTY - Concerned parents will have to wait a few more months to find out for sure if and how school lines will be redrawn.
The Forsyth County Board of Education voted 3-2 May 29 to postpone a final decision on redistricting in an effort to gather more precise information on enrollment numbers. Board members Nancy Roche and Ronnie Pinson voted against.
"I am worried the numbers we've been using are too big," said Board member Mike Dudgeon. "I think we should wait until August and see who really shows up at our door because we really don't know."
The board had met May 29 in front of a capacity crowd at the Board of Education building to discuss and possibly approve draft four of the redistricting map.
Dudgeon said he didn't want concerned parents to "expect a miracle."
"But we made significant changes late in the game," he said. "There might be a little more flexibility there with the numbers. I think it's more important to do the right thing than to make sure we go by the process."
However, Pinson said he was concerned about giving parents a "false hope that over the summer we are going to change this."
Board member Tom Cleveland, who made the initial motion to postpone a decision, said the board needed to give the redistricting process another look.
"We are trying to fit a peg in a hole that we always have and I think we need to rethink the way we do this," he said.
Some people in attendance applauded with the postponement after several residents began the meeting voicing their concern over the fourth draft of redistricting.
Jim Thomas, President of the Castlebrooke Home Owners Association, said he was "appalled" at the redistricting process he had witnessed.
"At the public forums hundreds of residents from dozens of communities voice concerns with the recommendations of the redistricting committee's Draft 3," he said. "Dozens of requests were submitted to the board, hours of discussion took place, for what? The net was two requests were granted."
All current redistricting information can be viewed on the system Web site at www.forsythk12.ga.us.
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