FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A controversial school redistricting plan passed in Forsyth County after receiving an emotional response from parents and students at a meeting Tuesday night.
Nearly 2,000 students from six elementary and high schools will have to change to different schools. The school system says overcrowding in the reason.
Parents said they plan on exercising every legal option available to them, even after an injunction request filed in court this week failed to delay the vote.
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“When it comes to transparency between the public and the redistricting committee, there is none,” parent Scott Koenigs said.
Parents said they weren’t notified about meetings to discuss redrawing the lines. Data samples gathered by the board and by parents differed.
Channel 2's Nicole Carr spoke to people who live in neighborhoods that are within steps of their children's current schools and miles away from the new schools.
Parents wanted a few more weeks to make the decision, with help from a third party.
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“If the best redistricting plan 30 to 45 days from now is the one you have on the table, I think we’ll all support it,” Koenigs said.
When the school board forged ahead with the vote, parents held out hope that high school juniors would have the option to stay put and limit disruption for college-prep plans, but that didn’t happen. The school board decided not to look at that option until they redistrict again, which could be years from now.
“It could have been a very easy thing to throw to both the students and parents to try to ease this pill that they’re shoving down people’s throats,” parent Chris Reilly said.
Several students were in tears when the plan passed with just one dissenting vote.
“I think I can agree with everybody else here: That is, it really just doesn’t make sense,” student Gracie England said.
Board members have ignored repeated phone messages and emails from Channel 2 Action News, requesting comment. The board members were escorted by security out of a back door immediately following the vote.
Cox Media Group
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