Fayette County parents will have their first chance to speak out on proposed new elementary school boundaries next Tuesday.

On Nov. 14, the Fayette County School System released maps of the proposed new boundaries that will shift more than 250 students to new schools next fall. School officials said the new boundaries are necessary because of overcrowding at three schools: Burch, near Tyrone; Peachtree City, in the city’s center; and Peeples, near the southern part of Peachtree City.

School system spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said the biggest group she’s heard from have been parents who live in Wilshire Estates in Peachtree City.

“In 2002, we redistricted these students from Peeples to Braelinn. Now, we’re sending them back to Braelinn and they want to know what’s going on,” she said.

Berry-Dreisbach said purchasing manager Fred Phillips has also had some calls and e-mails about the new zones and plans to address questions at next week’s hearing.

The hearing will take place in the gymnasium of Booth Middle School in Peachtree City. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the hearing beginning at 7 p.m.

Berry-Dreisbach said people wishing to speak will need to sign up to do so the night of the meeting. Speakers will be called in the order they signed up and will have five minutes to make their statements.

The members of the Fayette County Board of Education are expected to vote on the proposed boundary changes in December. The new elementary boundaries will take effect the 2006-2007 school year.

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