The following

information summarizes the school district reapportionment process and

the roles the Fulton Board of Education, the public and the state Legislature

will play in it.

What is

reapportionment?

Reapportionment

is the process through which voting districts are redrawn to reflect changes

in county and state populations. The process usually follows the U.S.

Census taken every decade. During the next year, reapportionment will

be taking place throughout Georgia.

How will

this process be used to create new school board districts?

Reapportionment

of the school board districts is enacted as local legislation, with the

Fulton County legislative delegation in charge of the process. In June,

the Fulton County Board of Education approved guidelines and timelines

for redrawing district lines.

Using the approved

timeline, the board could present a reapportionment plan to the legislative

delegation in August. This would in turn allow the delegation to approve

a plan in one of the special summer sessions of the General Assembly.

Plans call

for the board to collect community comment in public hearings and through

the school system's Web site, www.fulton.k12.ga.us .

Next the board

must conduct a special meeting to approve a preferred plan for redrawing

districts and submit the plan to state representatives and senators from

Fulton County for introduction and enactment in one of the special summer

General Assembly sessions.

What new

school board district alternatives is the Board of Education considering?

During two

June meetings, the Board of Education reviewed several alternatives provided

selected three alternatives to present to the community:

A seven-member

board (six districts, one at-large member). This alternative includes

four districts in north county and two in south county, with one member

elected by the entire voting population.

A seven-member

board (seven districts). This alternative includes four districts in north

county, two in south county, and one split district containing portions

of Sandy Springs and East Point.

A nine-member

board (nine districts). This alternative would increase the number of

board members from seven to nine and include six districts in north county

and three districts in south county.

Public hearings

are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m. at Webb Bridge Middle School,

4455 Webb Bridge Rd., Alpharetta; Monday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m. at Dunwoody

Springs Elementary School, 8100 Roberts Dr., Sandy Springs, and Tuesday,

Aug. 21, 7 p.m., Fulton County School System Administrative Center, 786

Cleveland Ave., SW, Atlanta.

After community

members have had an opportunity to view the maps and provide input, the

board plans to call a special Aug. 23 meeting to select a preferred alternative

to submit to the Fulton County legislative delegation.

Why is the

Board opting for action on a reapportionment bill in a special summer

General Assembly session, rather than waiting until January, when the

legislative session normally begins?

Following legislative

approval of the new district lines, the U.S. Department of Justice has

up to 60 days to review and approve them, with a possible extension of

60 additional days for further review. The terms of three of the existing

board members expire in December 2002. Elections to fill those seats takes

place in July 2002 and interested candidates must qualify in April.

Seeking approval

of a reapportionment plan in the August or September special sessions

ensures final approval of new district lines before the April qualifying

deadline.

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