TIFTON — The Tift County Board of Education discussed proposed changes to the school zones at the June 13 regular meeting.

School Superintendent Patrick Atwater led the discussion about the changes, which he said had been a topic of discussion for several years.

According to Atwater, beginning Monday, June 19 there will be posters depicting the proposed zones at the BoE office for the public to look at. Cards will be available to allow anyone to leave comments and questions.

Once the school zones are finalized and approved, said Atwater, the board can begin assigning staff and making equipment and furniture projections for the different schools.

He said that the population and makeup of the county as a whole was taken into account when drawing the new zones.

The changes are in conjunction with the school realignment that has been in the works for some time.

The realignment, which was one of the major provisions of the school system applying to become a charter system, would mean that the lower grade schools would be feeder schools with the goal of keeping students with their same group of peers throughout their entire school career.

Atwater said that this would give students much greater continuity in friendships and peer groups than they have had so far, and would be more convenient for parents.