GAINESVILLE - Growth in the south end of Hall County means the county school board has had to do some juggling to make sure the student population is distributed equitably.
Monday night, the board unanimously approved new district lines that affect Chestnut Mountain, Friendship and Spout Springs elementary schools.
Board chairman Nath Morris said before the vote that redistricting is not ideal, but sometimes it has to be done.
"You hope you plan for growth wherever your growth is going to come, but we don't really have any control over where it does come in, and we try to get kids in school classrooms where we can," said Morris.
School Superintendent Will Schofield said letters had been mailed to parents of all students who might be impacted by the changes. In addition, he said that school officials at Chestnut Mountain and Friendship elementaries would hold information meetings in the near future for families with students who will move from overcrowded Spout Springs Elementary to one of those two schools.
Schofield also pointed out that there are some students who can remain at their current schools under certain circumstances.
"[There would be] grandfathering for any family...that has students that are currently in a school as long as that family provides their own transportation," said Schofield.
He said exceptions will also be made for incoming kindergartners who already have siblings in a school outside of new district lines.
Click here to see the new district maps on the Hall County School District website.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/5/311178/hall-county-school-board-okays-elementary-school-redistricting-in-south-hall