As school officials

prepare for what they hope will be the opening of two new schools next

fall, students and parents throughout the county will feel the effects

of new district lines that determine who attends the new schools.

At an Aug.

28 public meeting, assistant superintendent Stuart Bennett told a crowd

of about 50 that a group of administrators would begin very soon studying

possible changes in the school districts and expect to have a recommendation

to Superintendent John DeCotis by December or January.

Whatever decision

is made will take effect for the 2002-03 school year, but "people

need to know as far in advance as possible," said Bennett.

Overcrowding

is a problem all across the county, particularly at Fayette County High

School, where 2,170 students are now attending at a facility better suited

for about 1,750, Bennett said.

Since the county's

fourth high school is not expected to open before 2004, the upcoming redistricting

will not relieve the high schools as quickly, but it will help prepare

for the new school's opening, he added, and "it's better to do it

all [kindergarten through 12th grade] at once."

The committee

charged with the redistricting project will utilize a computerized bus

routing map that Bennett said is very sophisticated and can move the lines

around automatically to help officials make their determinations.

Construction

is underway on Cleveland Elementary on Lester Road, at the western edge

of Fayetteville. Ground was broken Thursday for xxxxxx Elementary, located

south of Fayetteville on Ga. Highway 85.