From Thomas Crossroads to the steps of the office of the Coweta County School System in Newnan, people are making their feelings known about the school system's plan to change attendance lines for seven of the county's elementary schools.

Last week, several upset parents braved the icy January winds to picket the school board office.

A shivering Sharon Crouch of Sharpsburg was quite adamant about her feelings.

“This is all about what the school board wants, and not what the parents want,” said Crouch, who wore a sign calling for the board to be recalled.

In the last two weeks, the school system has been flooded with negative responses to the attendance lines. From letters to the editor in local papers to angry e-mails to the school system, the parents of the county are upset to a degree not seen in several years.

The school system claims the lines need to be adjusted to better balance the racial mixture at individual schools and also to keep up with the system's growth rate of more than 700 new students a year.

School system director of operations Dr. Doug Bennett said his office has received more than 100 e-mails on the subject and said he is forwarding all the responses to the individual board members.

“It's their decision. I merely supply them with the information,” he said.

Bennett said it is still his understanding that the board will vote on changing the lines at its Feb. 8 board meeting.

Throughout the last few weeks, board members have been fairly silent on the issue. At a public hearing last week, board members spoke with individuals about their concerns, but have not addressed the issue with any public statements.

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