In just under three weeks, Fayette’s community advisory committee will hold its first meeting and begin working on next year’s redistricting process for elementary school attendance zones.

Assistant Superintendent of Operations Sam Sweat said he met with presidents of the PTSOs Tuesday and said the organizations are in the process of picking one member from each school for the advisory committee.

“Every school in the system will be represented, so we’ll have a broad range of information,” Sweat said.

On May 14, the committee will sit down with the consulting firm of Associated Planning and Research, Inc. to map out the procedure as the school system looks to create new boundaries for the county’s elementary schools by Nov. 1.

Sweat also clarified the consultant’s pay by saying a note outlining the pay had been placed on the school system’s website.

“The school system took its first step toward this goal in March when a planning consultant conducted an intensive workshop educating school officials on the steps involved in developing a comprehensive redistricting plan, including ways to involve the public, the types of data involved and how to assemble and use the data. The cost of the workshop was a onetime $5,000 fee.

“Using information learned at the workshop, school system officials will conduct all data collection, analysis and disaggregating of information needed to develop the plan.

“Associated Planning and Research, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in comprehensive programs, demographics and facilities planning, will advise officials as they proceed.

“Hourly rates are $175 for the principal planner with over 30 years of experience working with school districts, states and the Department of Justice, and $110 for the senior demographics planner who will assist the school system in setting up demographic mapping and developing alternative plans for the process,” reads the addendum on the school system’s website.

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