Parents speak out at Forsyth County redistricting meeting

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County school leaders heard emotional pleas from parents against a plan to reassign hundreds of students to different buildings.

The district will open a new middle school in 2016, and leaders said they have to move students from overcrowded schools into new buildings. 

Several county residents gathered to voice their opinions on the proposed changes.

Some people had teary eyes as Forsyth County residents pleaded with school leaders at West Forsyth High School Thursday night against proposed plans to relocate students to different buildings.

"It will have a marked impact on my son and many other students in our community," resident Deeana Lucas said.

School leaders say the changes must happen every few years to account for the county's rapid population growth as new schools are built.

"We can't have one school that's overpopulated and another school that's half empty," Jennifer Caracicciolo from Forsyth County Schools said.

"Many of these children have experienced three schools in four years and now you are asking them to do it again," resident Dawn Bourg said.

One parent asked the school board to send kids to schools near their homes.

The building reassignments affect hundreds of elementary and middle school students, among them 140 students who would move from Piney Grove Middle School to the new Dasana Middle School.

"Figure out a way to keep everyone in the communities they cherish and our children are tied to," resident Joe Souder said.

WSBTV