“It’s been a long process, but hopefully we won’t have to do this again for a while.”

The words of Coweta County Schools spokesperson Dean Jackson sum up the attitude of many Coweta parents as the massive redistricting effort of the schools ended this week.

Jackson said parents can view the new maps at their child’s school or on the Coweta County School System Web site at www.cowetaschools.org, and parents have until January 31 to request that affected fifth- and eighth-grade students remain at there current schools as “grandfathered” students.

The redistricting, which may ultimately affect more than 2,500 students came about for several reasons.

The school system is opening two new schools, Welch Elementary School on Mary Freeman Road and Lee Middle School on Willis Road.

Additionally, the school system faces requirements from the Department of Justice. The board was facing a possible from the Justice Department if the Board did not address the issue of racially identifiable schools.

This week, the board considered two amendments to the maps approved Jan. 10. On the first amendment, the board approved moving Thomas Powers Road and the subdivisions which adjoin it (Midway and Hawk Road) back into the Western district, and move Thigpen Road and its neighborhoods (including Hope Shirey and Shady Lane) into the Ruth Hill school district.

Thigpen Road is closer to Western, but Jackson said the board moved the students since the area was closer to Ruth Hill School.

“You’re looking about three miles to Ruth hill as opposed to nearly 10 miles for the Thomas Powers Road area,” he said.

The move now puts Ruth Hill at 40 percent minority, instead of the current 67 percent.

But the board rejected amendment that would have moved several neighborhoods south of Ga. Highway 34 back into the Thomas Crossroads school district and move Fischer Road neighborhoods moved from Canongate into the Willis Road district.

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