Fayette County school officials

are going over proposed school attendance boundaries one more time this

week in light of comments made during Monday's public hearing.

The Board of Education will

vote on boundaries for elementary schools to accommodate two new schools

opening next fall, and for a high school opening in 2004-05, during its

business meeting Monday, Dec. 17.

Most of the changes parents

asked for during the hearing were aimed at keeping students at their current

schools. "We need all the stability that we can obtain for our kids

right now," said Randy Gaddo of Sandown subdivision.

Parents from various subdivisions

made appeals for changes to prevent a score of students here or there

from moving to a new school, but by and large comments were positive during

the three-hour hearing this week.

"The people that have

worked with us know that we are here to listen," said board Chairman

Mickey Littlefield during introductions.

About 400 residents attended

the hearing, and 80 signed up to address the board, but most of those

who had signed up elected not to speak after learning that new boundaries

for elementary school slated to go into effect in 2003-04 have been put

on hold while school officials look for a site for a third elementary

school.

Jerry Nemoth of Peachtree City

praised the board and staff for working hard on the new attendance lines,

and added that change is inevitable. "Please, with all speed, go

ahead and do it," he said to a round of applause from most of those

present.

Murray Weed, recently elected

to the Peachtree City Council, said he was speaking only for himself and

as a parent when he thanked the board for "the active communication.

We feel like we've been empowered and made a part of the process,"

he said.

He also urged the board to

consider proximity to schools as the top priority in drawing district

lines. Referring to new federal air quality guidelines, he said, "Fewer

vehicle miles traveled means more [federal transportation] money in the

future for Fayette County."

Councilwoman Annie McMennamin

also drew a round of applause when she urged the board to "remember

to validate the village concept of Peachtree City." Attendance zones

should allow children to attend school with others from their own villages,

she said, adding that the city's cart path system also should be considered

when transportation needs are discussed.

If schools lines are drawn

so that students are close to their schools, they can use those cart paths

to walk or ride bikes to school, she pointed out.

Laura Barber of Crabapple Woods

asked the board to consider "proximity to schools and school feed

as the number one and two variables."

For those who want their children

to stay at their current schools, Superintendent John DeCotis said the

school system hopes to establish a plan whereby they can do that if parents

want to provide the transportation.

He thanked the parents for

voting for the system's recent bond issue, which is funding the new schools

that necessitated drawing the new boundary lines.

"Without the bond issue,

we wouldn't be able to build these much-needed schools," DeCotis

said. "Even if we build a school every year for the next 10 years,

we won't catch up."

The system is handling 20,000

students currently and adding 450 a year, he said, and will have 30 schools

once the new ones are built.

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